Because Sometimes There's More Truth in a Lie.

24 Lying is an ugly blot on anyone, and ever on the lips of the undisciplined.

25 A thief is preferable to an inveterate liar, but both are heading for ruin.

26 Lying is an abominable habit, the liar's disgrace lasts for ever.

I don't know if anyone has ever told you, but truth is malleable.  Don't know what I'm talking about?  When is the last time you heard someone hedge something they said?  "I had no knowledge," that means you told someone not to tell you.  Mayor Ford in Toronto said he didn't believe there was video of him smoking crack.  He failed to say that he didn't smoke crack.  Politicians do this a lot.  They've raised it to an art form, haven't they?  Like they think they can say they didn't pay someone money for sex because someone else paid.  

If a lie like that is malleable can truth be as well?  Truth.  They say truth is elusive.  They say to get to the bottom of things is the only place you can find good truth.  It is as if you have to break open a truth peanut to get to the actual truth.  

Still there are all those questions women ask their men about whether they look fat in this dress, or if they'd still love her if she was terribly disfigured in an accident.  Truth maybe frightening.  Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if this place in life is where you want to be.  Be honest.  Was that the right job, degree, city, house, car, church?  Should I wear a bob, ladies?  Should men wear a mustache, sideburns?  It's okay, maybe even healthy to have some honesty about not being completely happy. 

Now look in that same mirror and beware...too much honesty can be bad too.  When you start looking for that ingredient that you left out maybe you start thinking about a whole new recipe.  You haven't been happy with this car so you get a new one.  You've never liked this chin; let's get a new one.  You hate your wife's nose hair; buy her a nose hair trimmer before you get a new girlfriend.  I think Oscar Wilde said in the Importance of Being Ernest, to keep your eyes wide open when looking for a spouse and half shut when you've found one.  Another way to say that is, seek truth but not too much.

Here comes Jesus II talking about truth and he wants to boil it down to false witness.  But, 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,' isn't always the truth.  I said you look bookish.  To me that is a good thing.  To you that isn't a good thing.  I said I hate it when you do that.  You thought I said I hate you when you do that.  I asked what's happening with this sit. as an abbreviation for situation; you thought I said sh**.  

Jesus II and the ten commandments seem to have this view of lying that is very pigeon-holed.  Maybe that's a good thing.  One thing is clear is that we think it's worse than theft.  Lying is abominable.  It lasts forever.  It is a nasty discharge on your face and it will not go away.  It is an open sore that you can't put a bandage on.  I'd rather enjoy the company of a person who punches me in the face than lies constantly.  Liars...well...they're collectively the Grinch.  

James points this out too.  And I think he has a more sensitive view about the shackles of truth.  He knows that a gossiping tongue telling the truth is still dishonest.  He knows that a verbal attack on the lips can trump a violent one on the fists.

Jesus, the best one, tells us not to make pledges or promises but to let our yeses be yes and our nos be no.  I think he is clearly trying to push away the infantile statements about innocence that a politician may keep on hand.  I think he seeks a person who is actively in search of the truth.  After all truth is more than facts.  Facts can sometimes lie, if you haven't heard.  

Truth is...well it's God.  It is love and in love their can be no dishonesty.  Whether it is true or not.  You ever think about that?  God will one day make you perfect, a lie that all creation is waiting for, for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed.    A substitute is making us clean so that we may be what we aren't and have what we haven't earned.  Our nature being with God is an unholy lie but Christ is the way and the...what...the truth and the life.  Isn't that the answer Christ gave Pilate when he asked what truth was?  The answer was Christ standing before him soon to be lifted up. Truth about to be killed for something he was innocent of...a lie.  Truth traded in for a lie but God's love makes it truth.

Welcome to the World

22 Have you cattle? Look after them; if they are making you a profit, keep them.

23 Have you children? Educate them, from childhood make them bow the neck.

24 Have you daughters? Take care of their bodies, but do not be over-indulgent.

25 Marry a daughter off, and you have finished a great work; but give her to a man of sense.

26 Have you a wife to your liking? Do not turn her out; but if you do not love her, never trust her.

How pertinent is it that I'm writing a blog about raising a daughter when my sister has just hours ago given birth to her first little girl?  I'm pretty stoked.  I love having niephews.  Yes that's a word, Spell Checker.  I love all the ones I've had so far.  I love Seren Eclaire, and Everrito, and Caediboo, and Williamino, and Murphy the Mess, and JDOC, and Luke-ee (Not sure how to spell this.  It seemed more creative when I said it than when I wrote it.  It sounds like, "Follow Duke-ee," from a single episode of a Gummie Bears Cartoon.).  Here, into the fray comes...I'm not sure I'm allowed to tell the world.  I've been sworn to secrecy.  

So it's pertinent.  But is it too presumptuous?  Probably.  But I hope I'm not making up the wisdom that I'm eschewing.  I hope I'm trying to give a sense of this Jesus' stuff.  I hope I'm introducing you, not berating you with wisdom.  After all wisdom has a still, kind, sweet voice.  Yes, sometimes she stands on the street corners and yells when no one can hear her.  But the voice of wisdom is a soft yell.  She shouts with a bedroom voice.  

Now let me just tell you that I think verse 26 needs a little less chauvinism and maybe mix in a little less crazy but hey I've never been married.  Plus, I wish he hadn't compared raising children to the raising of cattle.  Then again, I'm not a parent.  Maybe raising a kid is like raising a kid...get it?  Young goats are called kids, right?  Is that right?  I'm going to Google it.  Yep.  I was right.  Still a dumb joke, though, I know.  Anyways, I always give parents the same advice about how to raise a child.  One, brand them on their lower back not their thigh.  Two, don't force them to potty train.  I think they should beg to learn the ways of the toilet about the time they're ready for fourth grade.

So since I obviously have no idea what to say to parents about raising a child lets see what Jesus II has to say.  One, teach them so that they will profit you.  Two, keep the goal in mind.  

I hope I'm not stepping on any toes but your children will one day be good for you.  I'm not talking about that moment when they pop out and your heart feels good.  I'm not talking about them letting you move in when you're a hundred.  While this was part of the message then; it's more now.  Children are part of you becoming a better adult.  They refine your thinking.  They teach you grace and patience.  They make you smarter and if you're wise you can learn from their wisdom later in life.  They are a bread basket of lessons.  Take and eat.  The lessons...don't eat the babies.  Sit down and make a list of the things you've learned about people from watching your kid.  How do you want to be more like a child?  Are you learning anything through them?  Start paying more attention, you should be learning a great deal.  They are your teachers as you are theirs.

And parent with the end in mind.  I know we get this message when starting to look for a job, or train for a marathon, or bake cookies.  However, do we need this advice when we talk about child raising?  I'm not saying pressure them to become a Quarterback.  I'm saying that there are traits that you think they'll need.  There are ways that you wish you were raised differently.  Don't be flippant about the things that will make your baby into an adult the world can be proud of and God can really use.  Don't put items on the list like, "I want my baby to forgive."  That's to simple and amorphous.  How will you get them to forgive?  "I want my baby to climb every mountain," look! this isn't a Miley Cyrus song(get it?) this is your child's life.  How about this one.  "I want my child to play an instrument because that kind of determination and hard work will serve her in every endeavor and that talent is something almost every adult wishes they procured growing up."  That's parenting with the end in mind.  

"I want my kid to excel in all subjects.  If he can't, then I want him to try thoroughly and never give up because you don't have to excel in school to excel in life but you can't give up."  That's parenting with the end in mind.  Some parents want their kid to be spiritual but don't have the sense to purse spirituality.  Some parents want their kid to read but they don't read enough to them.  That's not parenting with the end in mind.

In the comments feel free to leave bad advice for parents, as a joke.  Make sure it's funny.  In private make a list of the traits you want your kid to have and some ways you can help them achieve them.  If you don't trust yourself (in conjunction with your spouse), have a trusted friend look over your list and make sure you're not putting too much pressure on your kids.  Make sure that you're not trying to live your life again through them.  We've seen that on enough t.v. dramas.

Wisdom is Better than Sexy!

Ecclesiasticus 11:1 A poor man with wisdom can hold his head high and take his seat among the great. 
2 Do not overrate one man for his good looks or be repelled by another man's appearance. 
3 The bee is small among winged creatures, yet her produce takes first place for sweetness. 4 Do not pride yourself on your fine clothes or be haughty when honours come to you; for the Lord can perform marvels which are hidden from the eyes of men. 
5 Many kings have been reduced to sitting on the ground, while a mere nobody has worn the crown. 
6 Many rulers have been stripped of their honours, and great men have found themselves at the mercy of others. 

Thou shall not see with normal, materialistic eyes.  Thous shall look at the world not as the rest of the world sees it but as God sees it.  The Ecclesiastes author might tell you to not overrate someone because there'll be a season where their beauty will go away.  Kings may have been made to sit on the ground because it was just a time to sit on the floor as opposed to a time to sit on the throne.  However, this is the writer of Ecclesiasticus and this author is much more concerned with what is wise.

That is why this author starts off with the richest person in the pericope.  A poor man with wisdom is a sage character in literature throughout history.  Lao Tzu, Moses, Buddha, Mohammed, even Christ; these days we think you can't be a holy man full of prophecy and wisdom without smelling like the beasts of the field.  I know Mohammed wasn't always dirty, but he received the Koran in the wilderness, right?  Buddha rejected all the world's creature comforts(including toilets(I know toilets weren't invented yet, it's just a silly example.)).  This is what great philosophers and meta-physicians do.  They sit under the stars and think.  Theirs, according to this passage, is true wealth.  

So who cares if Brad Pitt looks more handsome than I do in a tux?  Or in any clothes whatsoever?  Or not in clothes whatsoever?(Verse 2)  Okay, yes all women care, but should I?  I seek wisdom.

Who cares that the bee isn't as big as the eagle?  Who cares that no one ever pointed out the pretty bee like they do the pretty jay or robin?  Maybe the lark or dove isn't batted at by everyone who ever sees one unlike the bee.  However, honey IS sweet.  Ain't ever seen a farmer of peacocks but a lot of people keep bees. (verse 3)

Who cares if you are rich of bank and house and car?  Who cares if there are more bills in your wallet than there are cobwebs in most?  So your shirts are from Italy, suits are from England, and your lapel pins are diamond?  Who cares that you have a sports car for every day of the month.  Who cares if you're a 1%-er?(verse 4)  I still seek wisdom.  

Wisdom in comparison to that is dross.  Wisdom is a kingdom that cannot fail to defend itself.  Wisdom is the finest duds you could ever drape yourself in.  Wisdom is the sweetest fruit you can labor to produce.  Wisdom is sexier than Brad Pitt.  (Too bad for me Brad Pitt has enough wisdom to keep his considerable advantage in the handsome/wisdom race a run away victory.  I have to guess that if he was without wisdom then...)

Wisdom is more than reignments, but it IS the Emperor's finest uniform.  Wisdom is more than luxury, but it IS the opulence.  Wisdom is more than beauty, but it IS a vision.  Will you seek wisdom before a 401K?  Will you seek wisdom before stuff?  Will you seek wisdom before extras?

In the comments say something that you will do to seek wisdom before seeking something that is, in effect, superfluous.  Don't cheat; it must be something superfluous that you were going to get and try to redefine what actually is superfluous to yourself.     

Late for Lent

Ecclesiasticus 11:7

7 Do not find fault before making thorough inquiry; first reflect, then give a reprimand.

8 Listen before you answer, and do not interrupt a speech before it is finished.

9 Do not wrangle about something that does not concern you, do not interfere in the quarrels of sinners.

10 My child, do not take on a great amount of business; if you multiply your interests, you are bound to suffer for it; hurry as fast as you can, yet you will never arrive, nor will you escape by running away.

11 Some people work very hard at top speed, only to find themselves falling further behind.

Tomorrow morning when you wake up from a night of sleep you will be blissfully unawares that your least favorite blogger to read has in fact done what we all hoped he wouldn't do and that is continue his quest to wrestle with this book tucked gently away inside the Catholic Bible.  

It has been such a long time that we were all hoping that he would have given up the idiocy, that a world so concerned with technology might have the stomach for a blog about wisdom.  He didn't.  

We bet that there was a chance he would recognize that a world with too many blogs wouldn't need another phony expert telling phony supplicants something that has already been said and learned by far better, wiser, and smarter people over the last 2000 years.  He didn't.

However, he did decide that we need more wisdom and that he should redouble his efforts to put out there both the wisdom and encouragement for all to seek such wisdom.  Those people who've taught and learned better than us throughout history are more in need of a bath than we are and less of a need of wisdom although I will admit that is very historo-centric.

And so now we do turn once again to the cauterizing of a wound left by the sword of lethargy and ineptitude.  We are struck by the tools and gadgets that we made to help us and have hurt us.  We live thoroughly unwise lives.  And another guy named Jesus born a while before everybody's favorite Jesus has a book full of wise sayings to help us acclimate to a wiser existence.

First, hear the suggestion in verse 10 of chapter 11.  Do not take on a great amount of business.  If you multiply your interests you are bound to suffer for it... 

Granted I need to hear this admonition.  If you don't know me here's a little list of hobbies to give youa  little picture of what I'm like:  I like comics, movies, t.v., books, and music.  I like classic cars and coins and shoes.  I wear pens in my hat, I wear funny socks and interesting underwear.  I like to blog and I go to school.  I have three jobs to include going to school.  I like to infuse liquors with interesting flavors and I do so way more often than I drink.  I like to dance, sing karaoke, run on my treadmill, play basketball, BBQ and we aren't even half way through I imagine.  All of that stuff makes me sound schizophrenic but it really just makes me...well...schizophrenic.  

This passage is about putting all of your eggs in just two or three baskets.  I know there is this quote by Robert Heinlein, "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."  

All my life I've agreed with this statement and wanted to be a jack of all trades.  But think about the course of study for this list of capabilities.  It's too scattered and amorphous.  Let's see if we can't get Mr. Heinlein, the creepy orgy-ist, to agree with the writer of Ecclesiasticus.  How about we specialize for seasons?  How about each of us pick one of the things on this list of capabilities of human beings and just try to add that to our repertoire?  And if you've got enough on your plate how about knocking a couple things off?  I know, I know, what if you really need to conn a ship (steer a boat)?  Tough.  

Heinlein and the author of Ecclesiasticus both want us to do things in this world.  Neither want us to have the specialization of ants. However, between being a worker bee and excelling at nothing because you're kind of crappy at a ton of stuff are two opposite points on a pendulum with an entire civilization in between.

Try this.  Take an inventory of things that you do in life.  List your talents, abilities, hobbies, goals, dreams.  Now make a list of the things that aren't on that list you'd like to be.  (Don't go crazy, no one would expect Beethoven to wire his house's electricity or Einstein to...comb his hair?)  Now cross some off of the first list.  This isn't optional.  Pick the top three.  Family should be one, and job, and three should be...what?  Don't tell me.  Tell yourself.  Next, put just one from the second list on the first.  Pick a time period like three months or three years and make it happen.  

Think of the possibilities for this exercise across the spectrum of our species.  What do we learn if we all add a skill, talent, hobby?  Some people will choose something dumb.  Some would choose something evil, but if the rest use this as an experiment in gaining wisdom then the world will push back from a thanksgiving binge undo it's top button and let go a sigh of such complete satisfaction the likes of which aren't known..  Anyone care to take the challenge?  Comment what you're giving up for a season and what you're adding.  

P.S.  This would have been a good post to make in conjunction with the beginning of lent.  #Fiddlesticks #41days2late #stupidnontwitterhashtags