Reading
Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.
Proverbs 1:5 (NIV)
Reflection
In Pastor Mark’s sermon, he mentioned that “Wisdom is about humility and listening.” It’s amazing how much we can learn when we keep our spirit in a teachable mode and keep our heart open to God’s surprises. The biggest obstacle to learning is thinking that we’re wise enough that we only need to teach and not learn. The truth is, maintaining a healthy balance between teaching others and learning from others can be crucial to enjoying life.
I’ve never met someone who thinks they know everything but is also a happy person. Instead, people who are puffed up with their own knowledge seem to have deep trouble finding joy in life. Sometimes, when we learn something novel – and we come face to face with what we thought we knew but really didn’t know at all – it’s quite enjoyable and even makes us laugh.
In her book, Do This, Remembering Me, Colette Bachland-Wood recounts an experience which surprised her with a new learning – and made her laugh. Bachland-Wood, who’s had years of experience working with Alzheimer’s and other dementia patients, tells a story about a laughing monkey: “Years ago, I was one of three families going to New Hampshire for a long ski weekend. One of the families was bringing their children, including a ten-year-old whose birthday it would be while we were there. The other couple was bringing their mother, who was in her early seventies and had Alzheimer’s. For the child’s birthday, I bought what I thought was a great gift, a little stuffed toy monkey who, when you flick on his switch, rolls around the floor laughing. Well, ten-year-olds have more interest in electronics than giggling monkeys, but our friend’s mother with Alzheimer’s fell in love with it! She laughed and laughed and laughed when I put the monkey on the floor. The entire weekend, while others skied, she and I sat on the couch and watched the monkey roll around, and did we laugh.”
Because of this event, Bachland -Wood started using a similar monkey (“Giggles, the Praying Monkey”) who would attend the worship service she led for a memory care unit. And when she’d flip the switch and Giggles would start laughing, the residents would join in with their own symphony of joy.
Bachland-Wood, having lots of experience supporting people with dementia, could have approached things as someone who thought she’d learned it all. Instead, she welcomed this new lesson. That even though she had a different person in mind to receive her monkey gift, it turned out that she was able to give the gift of joy to someone who received it gladly. Now her new-found wisdom is put to work as a way of bringing happiness to lonely residents who perhaps haven’t had a good giggle in quite some time. She writes, “Even the grumpiest of residents are drawn out of their shell by Giggles.”
I share this story with you because I think it’s a wonderful illustration of how knowledge and experience can become true wisdom. What makes the difference? Being open to learning something new and receiving the blessing that such a new learning brings; that’s what makes the difference! Bachland-Wood was wise enough to capture this new learning and use it in sharing the love and joy of Christ with people to whom she ministers.
Is your spirit humble enough to receive new learnings, even in the areas where you are well-versed? I hope so. Your happiness might depend on it, because God still has plans to teach you things, and God hopes those new lessons will bring you joy.
Prayer
God of Ultimate Joy and Love, open our hearts to new learnings about how we might share your love with others. Keep us humble enough to listen, watch, and learn. Keep our determination firm enough to never give up on searching after more and more holy wisdom, which we know comes from you. Amen.
