My owner has recently taken up doing crosswords when he goes to roost on his bed at night. And I always used to wonder why these human word puzzles are called ‘Crosswords,’ but now I know. You see, there are always a few words which he simply can’t get. Sometimes it’s because they’re Americanisms, and sometimes it’s because they’re old-fashioned expressions which humans don’t use any more. But the net result is that each puzzle ends up making him frustrated, so that he utters ‘cross words.’
If he were truly wise like a parrot, he’d do something else before he goes to sleep, such as nibble a nice chilli or sort some feathers out. But humans aren’t always very wise; in fact, they so often make the wrong choice.
Let’s think about America again. One of its early Presidents once said this: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed it ourselves.”
(Abraham Lincoln: [1809 – 1865]: 16th President of the United States until his assassination).
And later on, another President said this:
“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely.”
(Franklin Roosevelt: [1882 – 1945]: 32nd and longest serving President of the United States).
Yes, today, many humans in America are flirting with self-destruction, because of their lack of wisdom. And it’s a story that’s repeated all across the world by humans taking illegal drugs, or drinking excess alcohol, or gambling away their earnings, or resorting to crime instead of following a moral pathway.
God knew that humans lacked wisdom; that’s why He made sure everyone received the Ten Commandments. They are not a list of rules and regulations that spoil life. No, they offer a framework for living, designed to protect the human race from itself. And boy, does it need some protection!
So, coming back to my owner, his cross words don’t really matter in the whole scheme of things. No, so long as he keeps God and Jesus centre stage in his life, without distorting their message, then I reckon he’ll end up alright. Even though he is just a human.
“The sum total of all human knowledge is but as a drop of the bucket compared with the wisdom of God.”
(Charles Spurgeon: [1834 – 1892]: English Baptist minister, still referred to today as ‘the Prince of Preachers.’)
“A fool’s paradise is a wise man’s hell!”
(Thomas Fuller: [1608 – 1661]: English churchman, historian, author and preacher).
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.”
(1 Corinthians 3:19)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault……”
(James 1:5)
“But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17)
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