In a group chat with friends last week, a couple of us were sharing our sadness and despair over the shootings in Uvalde.  One well-meaning friend was driving up to Maine at the time, and shared a beautiful photo of the Maine coastline, with the caption, “Here is a picture to inspire peace for all.”

To be honest, that was unsettling for me.  I didn’t want to look at pretty photos and feel at peace.  I didn’t want this to just be one more tragedy where we shake our heads, wring our hands, and then move on with our lives.  I wanted to DO something.

I appreciated Pastor Will’s letter sent out in a special E-news on Friday, naming what I was feeling and offering concrete actions I can take to work for change.   And last night’s prayer service was moving, and I found hope in hearing others wrestling with some of the same feelings I’ve been experiencing.

And now I have another suggestion for anyone who is looking for clarity on how to respond to the current crises.

To meet the challenges of these times, we need wisdom.   Wisdom guides us in making right choices, even when the path ahead is unclear, using good judgment, insight to discern inner qualities and relationships, and accumulated knowledge. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

“If you indeed cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures - then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”  (Proverbs 2:3-6)

When we seek wisdom, we need to look to Jesus, of whom it was said, “What’s this wisdom that has been given to him?” (Mark 6:2) Christ Jesus is our wisdom from God.  (1 Corinthians 1:30)

“Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock.”   (Matthew 7:24-25)

The truth is you have to be deeply knowledgeable about something in order to apply it with the insight and judgment of wisdom.

We have been challenged to read the four gospels over the three months of summer.  This challenge begins today, and what better way to seek the wisdom of Jesus and guidance for navigating these times, than to study the four gospel accounts of His earthly ministry!  All it takes to reach this goal is to read one chapter a day.  On our website you will find a daily plan to help you keep track of your reading.

We will be providing you with additional resources along the way, to deepen your understanding of the material.  These will be shared on Facebook, in our weekly E-news, and on our website.

“The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight.  Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.” (Proverbs 4:7-8)

From “God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life,” by Timothy Keller:  “The message is clear:  Never, ever give up in your pursuit of wisdom.  Do absolutely anything to get it, whatever it costs you.  Why?  Because it is more costly to not have it.”