Wisdom from Unlikely Sources

When most of us think about wisdom, or who we would go to for a piece of advice, it's safe to say we usually think of people with power or status. Maybe a pastor, a teacher or guidance counselor, maybe even parents. Usually we seek people with more experience and a title. But sometimes wisdom can be found in the least likely of sources. For instance yesterday I was taking photography for a wedding in Downtown Orlando. I stopped and offered a homeless man some water and then continued my journey when he began talking more. As I came back he began to thank me but then started talking about his past life. He talked about his love for photography too and all the places he had taken pictures. It was a conversation I knew he was dying to have. Not too long after he began talking about smiles. Words you can use to get people to smile for photos. And again, soon after that, he then told me about the importance of making people smile. How it's a priority for him and the lengths you have to go to see someone smile sometimes, but he assured me it's worth it. Some of the things he told me I had never heard before. And then it clicked- the reason I had never heard that wisdom before, is because I had never seeked wisdom from that source before. If we want new advice, we must change our source. Similarly so, if we are tired of the world's failing wisdom, it's evidence that we need to seek God's wisdom. God's word never fails, never lies, never destroys. His word is love and salvation. His word saves and heals and comforts. If we are tired of hearing the same answers from the world, maybe it's time we start looking for answers from God. And to my other point- God works strongly in the least of these. So why do we so often ignore them? People all have stories. Not everyone has wisdom. But when we look towards new sources, we can surprise ourselves. Even the people you'd least expect can share wisdom that you'd never hear elsewhere. So seek wisdom from different people and be open to listen, but most importantly seek wisdom from the God who loves and cares for you.

Lost Generation

Alright now, before I make the ladies upset, I will say women have a strong influence on families and relationships. Their actions are important and do make a difference, however the male influence is remarkably stronger in various instances. Yes feminists, males do have a stronger impact on most of the values and morals handed down to children. And while I applaud single parent homes for taking the responsibility of both parents, there are some cases which simply can not be replicated.

Let's go back over 100 years to 1866. A book titled "Applied Christianity" was written and quotes "The tendency has been gaining strength to withdraw education from an association with religion, to eliminate religion wholly from education..." as well as "This deprivation of morals is due in part to defects in our systems of education." Let's face it, knowledge is what controls our society. So it's safe to say any problems we face likely stem from our prior knowledge. Present day in public schools teachers must teach textbook style, not freely about their opinions or religion. They teach unbiased and leave it up to kids to decide. The lack of morals being tought at a young age, stems all the way to lack of morals in place as we grow older. Lack of morals is fatal to any healthy relationships. Studies have shown that in 1950 4% of births were to unmarried women, and in 1991 the percentage shot to 29.5%. Clearly there is a change of moral taking place. Present day we aren't taught Christian values in school, neither by media. In fact we are taught the exact opposite, leaving this generation without healthy guidance. This is where the role of the parent, specifically the father comes in. A co-parent alliance has the power to strengthen or weaken a child emotionally and physically, but the effects of a father are lasting impressions that carry down many generations. Fathers closely influence education (factors for a successful life on Earth) and religion (factors for success both on Earth and eternally). "American men used to know what it meant to be a father." BUT, due to secularization in our society, many men lack the proper role model to lead by example. Our society learns more from logic and equality, "what pleases everyone", temporary happiness, than it does from God and His word. As the rates for single-parent homes, unmarried child births, and divorce skyrocket, men are becoming less prepared to change the statistics and instead fall into a repeating cycle. As media influences children more than parents themselves, they take in information later harmful to their own relationships. If women and men become bound closer by the word of God, their relationship can prosper and teach their children by example the way to live and love. Fathers have the ultimate job in regards to their children's future. If fathers are influenced by society that will show through their children. When in hands of a good father, their knowledge is more likely to be centered around Christ. Like I said earlier, we are centered around knowledge. What we learn will be shown in our actions. What we take in, we will later teach to others. So where are we learning from? What are we influenced by? Society or our God?