Scriptures:
Proverbs 1:22 (the Message)
Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance? Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism? Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?
Matthew 11:30 (the Message)
[Jesus said,] “Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Thought for the Day: The translation of the Proverb is tough and causes some discomfort, but we’ve all played witness to those who wallowed in their ignorance, fed their cynicism and refused to learn anything new. It was Anatole France, the Nobel Prize novelist, who wrote, “An education isn’t how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It’s being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don’t.” We have this notion within our culture that to admit you do not know something is a sign of stupidity and weakness, but how often have people lied about what they knew only to have it come back and bite them. Knowledge is power, but being truthful about what we know (or don’t know) is liberating. It opens the door to learn more, receive an explanation, and to not make a fool of ourself down the road. Only a few times in my life have people made fun of me when I said, “I don’t know,” but for everyone of those, there have been numerous times when new insights were gained because I was honest about my ignorance.
Prayer: O Giver of Strength, provide me with the confidence to say, “I don’t know,” and then to humbly learn from those who do know. Amen.
IMPORTANT
Looking Ahead To:
March 2, 2014
Single Service at 10:30am
Ordination of Rev. John Frey
