There are “things” I wish I could give to my daughters and young friends at work. The gifts are not the usual CDs, vacations, or things of monetary value. I wish I would pass on the small bits of insight and wisdom gathered through the years. I dream of the day when they could avoid the pitfalls that I insisted on walking through. I hope, however the willingness to listen often seems fleeting.
We were the same in our younger days. Friends older and wiser tried to pass on their experiences, yet we knew exactly what we wanted to do! Even when we experienced the initial life experiences confirming their insights, we quickly wrapped the results with rationalization and youthful logic to reshape the truth of their words. The facts are that we wanted our freedom just like everyone else! We, at least I, needed to know that our emergence as a viable, functioning member of society came with all the trappings. I wanted to make my own mistakes, determine my own future, and decide what I ate or did not eat.
There was a lot of learning in those days. I do wonder when I began to believe that the learning had stopped. Whenever that day was, it was the day I lost any credible wisdom. Life is not about arriving; it is all about traveling. Are we going to God or running away? No other question is worth asking.
The God of self is on a path we often follow. The harsh reality is that “her whole way of life is doomed; every step she takes brings her closer to hell. No one who joins her company ever comes back, ever sets foot on the path to real living.” (Proverbs 2.18,19) Yet, I insist on taking this direction.
If I could give you anything, my gifts would be three. I would give you the experience of God's unconditional love. I would share the peace from being in God's presence. I would give you my cup of grace and mercy. Wisdom gifts for your journey.
