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.