Ecclesiastes 2:13

Light Unto My Feet

- Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. -

Photo by Victor Freitas from Pexels

Reader, I have a confession to make to you. It’s a story I don’t often get to bring up about myself, and one most people don’t believe.

I’ve never been afraid of the dark.

Okay, okay. You got me. Sure, I’ve been outside at night, heard a twig snap, and stared into the woods wondering what in the world that was.

That’s not what I’m talking about. I mean that irrational fear you possess as a kid; the kind you need a nightlight for.

I don’t know why, but I’ve always turned lights on sparingly. When I’m at home in the afternoon? Never. Even when I do, I keep them dimmed.

Whenever I could, I would make a game out of going through my house in the dark, moving completely by memory and touch.

My favorite? Going down into our basement and finding whatever it was I wanted in complete darkness.

Gun to my head, I had a great memory when I was a kid. I think my ability to “see” my home kept me from getting scared.

Darkness has a way of making things sinister. We lose track of where we are and must rely on lesser senses to make sense of how to return to safety.

Undoubtedly, wisdom acts in a similar fashion.

When Solomon tried to learn about meaning in folly, he found he couldn’t see the end of his pursuits, at least not until his children woke him up.

It doesn’t feel like it in the moment, but the decision to act foolishly is like choosing to step into a room you’ve never been in before with the lights off.

Are there nails on the floor? Is there a tiger in the corner? Maybe there is nothing but a table with cookies on it?

You don’t know what you’re getting into, and that’s why it’s foolish.

At times, we may choose to do something foolish and be rewarded by it! This a dangerous moment. It doesn’t mean being foolish leads to happiness, rather you got lucky.

The strange part about being a limited human being? Most of your life feels like walking into rooms that aren’t lit. Think of all the “firsts” you’ve had in your life.

So, how is walking with wisdom akin to turning on the lights?

When you’re young, you don’t have experience. But, you know things, like pain is bad, hunger hurts, and want.

Do you know that babies when they cry are often expressing anger rather than sadness? They’re not begging for help; they’re angry you’re not fixing it NOW.

In a sense, you come prepackaged with certain knowledge. You gain a body that must move and receive sensory input as only that body can.

You don’t find your way around by echolocation. You don’t walk on four legs. You only have thick hair on the top of your head.

Essentially, you are human.

That comes with the price of a soul.

Wisdom comes from realizing that divinity created that.

Learning to listen to God and parents and learning to engage in dialogue with yourself, that is where wisdom resides.

If you can do so, then you can walk with just enough light to take your next step.

---

Housekeeping: Hey friends. Thanksgiving is this Thursday, so make an effort to be present and love whoever it is you gather with.

To do the same and offer you one less digital distraction, there will be no post this Thursday. I’ll pick up in verse 14 next Tuesday.