The Difference Between Smart and Wise
June 24, 2010
I am sure you recall your kids asking you questions. Then, if you knew the answer and gave it to them, they asked “Why?” In our house, that “why” almost always followed any answer given by another, “Why?”
And kids wonder why their parents don’t pay any attention to them!
As you know, the word why used in this context is a subjective word. In other words, depending on the person asking, the answer may require many different answers based on the asker’s background.
I know our children used to ask “why” just to do one of two things: either to see how far they could carry the whys out or to just get our goat! Ornery little kids!
Yet I can remember doing the same thing to my parents. Mostly my dad! He had a diverse amount of knowledge. He was well read and could expound on many subjects. In fact, he encouraged reading!
When I was bored, I used to read the dictionary. Not just the definitions of all the ”dirty” words but just read it for knowledge. Then I would start asking questions. When I ran out I would start with the “whys” until Dad got disgusted and walked away.
The reason I am writing on this topic is kind of simple! I had lunch at Royal Buffet on Buchholzer Blvd. in Akron. When I was finished, my server brought me a fortune cookie. The message inside said, “Every wise man started out by asking many questions.”
Now you know it is not advisable to argue with a fortune cookie but darn it, I thought the quotation was a giant step from the truth! lf I had the opportunity I would have written, “Every smart man started out by asking many questions!”
In my humble opinion, there is a huge difference between being smart and being wise. You know the type of person I am thinking about! A person very knowledgeable about many subjects on paper yet cannot express his/her understanding of what had been read!
In the Bible, many people were smart yet not wise. Jonah, David, Simon Peter, Thomas and Saul to name a few I can take from memory. I am sure you could add to that list with many more! People who were smart yet not wise!
God sent Jonah to Nineveh, yet he protested every step of the way! King David had it all but lusted after another man’s wife. Had him killed to get her! Simon Peter didn’t become wise until after the resurrection of Christ! Thomas had to shove his hand into the side of the Risen lord and only then did he acknowledge Jesus as God’s Son. It took the removal of blindness for St. Paul to be created!
Today, the national Episcopal church is in the throes of agony! WHY? Because we, as a loving denomination, are attenuating to be, not just smart, but wise! Wise! We are inviting any and all to become the best Christians we can be! Empowered to rise as far as an individual can go!
WHY? Because we believe like the bracelets said, WWJD. What would Jesus do? He invited everyone!
I know a couple churches that study the Bible to reinforce their belief that some of God’s human creation is an abomination! To me, that is not wise! It is not even smart! And most importantly, NOT TRUE!
From what l see and hear, St. John’s, Cuyahoga Falls, is on the right path toward being wise. I feel one day the rest of the church will begin the journey like St. Paul when he was Saul of Tarsus. I just pray it doesn’t take being driven to the ground and blinded before it happens!
Deacon Bill
