Living Almanac
We are small owners of some farm land in a different state. My uncle manages it. Anyway, he rents it out to a guy who farms it along with other land. This farmer, in appreciation for the rental land, sends us a Farmer’s Almanac daily calendar every year.
I like (when I remember) tearing off yesterday’s page and seeing what tidbit of wisdom is being shared that day. For example, today has the word “cubit” as being approximately 18” or the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (now, go read the dimensions of the ark given to Noah or the tabernacle given to Moses).
Almanacs seem to be plentiful. I remember in high school learning about Ben Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac. Another collection of wise advice, seasonal weather hints, household suggestions and interesting tidbits. An interesting tidbit about that for that almanac, besides being published under a pseudo name, Franklin “borrowed” a lot of the material.
But probably the most famous collection of wise advice is from Proverbs. Solomon was asked by God what he desired and instead of asking for a long life or riches, he asked for wisdom (which to me indicates a lot of wisdom to begin with). My daily devotion includes reading a chapter of Proverbs each day. I guess I’m praying that exposing myself to it will rub off and increase my wisdom. Here is my today’s passage.
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail. Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend. The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor. The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you. Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them. Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” - Proverbs 22:1-29 ESV
Of all the things I desire in life (and they are many - some I’m proud of and others not as much), I try to keep wisdom in the mix. My aunt exposed me to this saying as a young man: “Yours till the Mississippi wears rubber pants to keep its bottom dry”
Wisdom is everywhere if you look for it.
