Rev. Michelle Manuel

Ecclesiastes 8:1-9
1 Who is like the wise man?
    And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
Wisdom makes one’s face shine,
    and the hardness of one’s countenance is changed.

2 Keep the king’s command because of your sacred oath. 3 Do not be terrified; go from his presence, do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is powerful, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever obeys a command will meet no harm, and the wise mind will know the time and way. 6 For every matter has its time and way, although the troubles of mortals lie heavy upon them. 7 Indeed, they do not know what is to be, for who can tell them how it will be? 8 No one has power over the wind to restrain the wind, or power over the day of death; there is no discharge from the battle, nor does wickedness deliver those who practice it. 9 All this I observed, applying my mind to all that is done under the sun, while one person exercises authority over another to the other’s hurt.

Reflection:
We’ve all seen it. We’ve all been there. The freshly graduated young adult emerges from their graduation ceremony into the workplace and they know everything. I say this in the kindest and most beloved sense, after all I was just there *achem* a “couple” of years ago. We all have stood in a place where we think we know it all, convinced that we have wisdom to share or we love someone who has been in such a mind frame. And love them, we do!

And then life happens. The new job is not exactly the job for which one interviewed. The new leadership opportunity is in fact a glorified managerial role. The big, exciting move turns out to be just like the last city, warts and all. Whatever the case may be, it’s a situation in which we come to realize that we don’t know as much as we thought we did. (As an aside, I’ve come to learn that this is the entire Christian life. The more I get to know God, the more I realize I don’t know.) I digress. At some point we learn that knowledge is NOT wisdom. We can have a ton of knowledge, and to be fair it’s often helpful, but wisdom, that’s another thing entirely. Wisdom seems to be forged rather than gained. Wisdom comes with time, experience and often hardship or challenge. Wisdom is an embodied knowledge. And as this passage notes- it has a deep impact in our lives. It can change our countenance.

A mentor of mine noted that big disastrous situations seem to be weathered better by those who have seen more disasters. For those of us who have not seen things like social upheaval, warring, tribalism we tend to be more anxious, disturbed, and despairing. Youth can often convince us that we are more in control than is true. But experience brings wisdom. And that wisdom changes the countenance of the person it graces. Wisdom fortifies you for the storms ahead, while keeping your heart soft and without armor. There’s a calm and steadiness in this wisdom that can make even the most anxious of persons breathe a little more deeply.

God has forged within us wisdom that will aid us in tough seasons — keeping our countenance soft. True wisdom is exemplified in this soft humility of pouring oneself out for others, disrupting the politicking of the day through love. If we need an example of this wisdom, we need look no further than our humble Jesus.

Prayer:
Good and wise God, Today I ask that you would soften me in the face of adversity. I lean into you as a shelter from the storms of today knowing that when I go out it’s through humility and love that I share your wisdom. Show me where this is possible and strengthen me to act. Amen.