Everything I learned on a USB...?

 

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes (Prov. 26:4-5).

 

Did you notice how the two parts of this proverb directly contradict each other? What is more appropriate, to speak or to remain silent in the presence of a fool? Deeply rooted trees respond appropriately to the season and setting that they are subjected to.

 

The proverb reminds me of a professor I had in seminary. Professor Collins had a playful but dry, matter of fact, way about him. One day he said to the class, “Suppose I am teaching my child not to scream indoors. How nice it would be (I once thought) to hang a decibel meter around my daughter’s neck, which would then give her a shock if she screamed too loudly.”

 

He went on, “But what about the situations in which a good loud scream is appropriate (outside; being under attack; daddy jumps out from behind a hiding place)?”

 

Professor Collins loved to remind us that wisdom “looks for a hearer with his wits about him.” In learning and in life there must be space carved out for discerning one’s context.

 

Sometimes I wish I could download onto a little USB everything I learned in university and seminary, give it to those whom I love so they could quickly just download the data into their heads and have all of their problems solved. It would be quick, painless and easy.

 

But growing in wisdom does not happen this way. Wisdom invites us to pause. Wisdom requires struggling through various possible outcomes and patiently discerning one’s context before taking appropriate action. Wisdom is a skill to be practiced and refined.

 

What we learn from RAs, staff, professors and peers is being entrusted to us by Christ in love that we might appropriate it. You are not the end of your education. Christ has planned and purposed that you be called to Redeemer in this season (and he has a place in mind for where he is taking you). It is here at Redeemer that you must practice the skill of intentional appropriation of knowledge. Where might God be calling you to turn theory into practice? Where might God be inviting you to take a risk and just do something?

 

A question that I was asked repeatedly by a professor was, “Now that you know, given who you are, what are you going to do?” What I like about this question is that it assumes responsibility to be linked with true knowledge and yet leaves much room for situational applicability.

 

So, now that you know, what are you going to do, given who you are?

 

“Good Shepherd, may we as a campus be a people with our wits about us. Teach us the skill of wisdom, that we may live life to the full in the Kingdom.”