Wisdom

As part of my thirty challenge, I wanted to read books that would make me think about the human condition. While perusing through my personal collection of books that house philosophical revelations and fictional adventures, I stumbled upon a book that has possess my interest and time like a child playing with a new toy way after his bedtime. For anyone who wants social justice and freedom in the world, especially in our nation, I urge you to read Can You Hear Me Now? by Michael Eric Dyson. He discusses many problems with our nation mainly dealing with the attitudes towards the underpriviliged and the discriminated. He talks about faith and spirit, love and relationships, homosexuality and homophobia, literature, learning, and literature, and wisdom.

One of the things that I find uplifting and quite inspirational is Dyson's backstory. Dyson received a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Carson-Newman College. He graduated magna cum laude and went on to receive both his Master's and Doctorate degree in religion from Princeton.

What is, perhaps, the most inspirational to me is his struggle with faith. Through readings of the french existentialist philosopher Jean Satre, Dyson followed a path of atheism. He talked his feelings through with his pastor. His pastor's advice: let it run its course. One year of living drove Dyson back into his Christian beliefs deeper than before. This background made me thirsty to read his views on wisdom. With reading the prior chapters, I was hungry for what the influential intellectual had to say. This book is filled with quotes; some have even made my facebook status and several comments. But, here are the two quotes:

1) "Mature men temper strength with wisdom and know how to share power."
2) "One of the reasons we suffer is because we ignore the wisdom of our women."

I feel wisdom is something that comes from an experience. Many people associate gaining wisdom only by means of growing older. Well, I have come across some old people where wisdom has not even touched the tip of their mind. I mean if wisdom only comes from old people then how do you explain young people displaying wise advice. For example, Tupac never reached thirty but had others thinking about his poems and lyrics. He discussed a wisdom that only came from living through his experience. He talked about gangsters finding God but dealing the drugs in the streets. I wonder are these things mutually exclusive? Can a gangster inadvertently find God by dealing drugs in the streets where at a moment's notice a drug deal can go wrong? Maybe, but I don't have the knowledge or wisdom to know.

But, the second statement really resonates the most. Women are such a vital aspect of our society in order for us to thrive. Think about it; countries where the women are uneducated suffer more economically. Women live through so many things. I feel like there's a connection that women are able to tap into. It's powerful. I'm not saying all women are wise, but most have a tendency to have some pretty sound advice. It boils down to respect though. If we respect others' experiences, we could tap into a connection that could bring our society to a better place. I implore you to implore to know wisdom. Can you be mature enough to temper strength and wisdom? Will you not ignore the sage wisdom of our women?

Take the steps to be a better person in order to create miles filled with better people!