"Don't go making mountains out of molehills," was a common expression in my household as I was budding into the teenage angst of the early 2000’s. Needless to say, there was a good basis behind the frequency in which I would hear this cliché.
Melodramatic became an identifier that I abhorred. Maybe because I felt every teenager was classified as “over-the-top,” being that the array of uncultivated adolescent hormones were practically spewing from our orifices every chance they had between the back-talking, smarting off and/or grumbling profanities. I didn’t want to be like every other teenager (though I was). In my mind, I was different and more mature, if you will. That’s laughable. I never listened to anyone but myself, because, didn’t you know? I was always right.
Well, in retrospect, I may have had a molecular amount of maturity when it came to certain situations. After all, I was granted the genetics of logic and realism from Betsey, and the compassion for people from ole’ Dave. Through their spiritual guidance, dusty advice (synonymous with knowledgeable, worldly, erudite, cultured, etc. for those wondering) and somewhat strict laws of the land, my beliefs were shaped by a profound mental and spiritual soundness. Albeit, all of this wonderfully eclectic information and advice came at an early age, I obstinately decided not to utilize most of it until I was around 22 years old.
Before someone decides to jump ahead of me (Aunt Julie), let me just state this: I was a handful; a handful of mixed emotions with a deplorable temper, unpredictable disposition and raw wit. At times, living with me could be equivalent to eating bloody cows hid topped with the rotting flesh of a bed-stricken obese man. I was a rolling ball of chaos from the ages of 12 to 21. Yet, it was almost overnight when I came to the realization concerning the true fundamentals of life, gaining an abundance of clarity and a nice helping of maturity, as well! (Let me skip around, but I’ll come back to this.)
I was once asked to define the word wisdom by Abbie Brown, my cabin leader at church camp. At age fourteen, I find my answer, still to this day, as a direct response from the Lord. “What is wisdom? Godly knowledge.” It didn’t register until recently how philosophical my response had been.
Wisdom isn’t something given, but attained. As God is all-knowing and has our best interests at heart, we too should strive to be wise. Whether it be making wise choices financially; putting our money where our mouth is; using not only our words but our actions to walk the walk and talk the talk; being silent if we have nothing pleasant to say at all. "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;" James 1:19 ESV.
While the phrase “you’re hearing me but you’re not listening to me” can be examined in a psychological sense as to how human’s ‘hear’ and ‘listen’, to me it is an over-used yet unappreciated expression that hits close to home. In fact, it can be heard bellowing through homes across the world in various vernaculars and translations by parents aching to hit the hearts of their children. But what about our heavenly Father who is saying the same thing to His children?
When I hear something, I’m not forced to act. If I’m listening, I’m expected to react. Shouldn’t this be how we treat the Lord’s words and messages to us? I want to listen to the wisdom He has for me, not just hear about it. Now I realize it’s no longer about me and being right (I hardly ever am anyways, just ask Matt Cheij). What’s important in my life has been made so lucid—His plan, not my own; His wisdom, not my know-how. I find strength in dissonance because I know there’s a reason behind the friction. I’m at peace when distressed because I’m reassured by His hands over me.
So I challenge myself, my friends and strangers alike, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." James 1:22.
This is what I’ve learned to be fundamental. Listening to Christ Jesus, whose power and presence is bigger than any problem or person in my way. Utilizing this scripture to be the solid foundation for your life and God’s work is wisdom… this is Godly knowledge.
Love,
MaryClaire
