A Cup Of Wisdom

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
Socrates

In my dome of ivory,
A home of activity,
I want the answers quickly,
But I don't have no energy.
I hold a cup of wisdom,
But there is nothing within...
(lyrics from 'Sat In Your Lap' by Kate Bush)

In my current stage of recuperation from the recent round of hospital visits I am increasingly aware that I have a tremendous opportunity here to take stock of my life.

And, of course, I need God’s help. In fact, I don't want to move forward without it.

Does prayer guide my life, or do I just make a series of plans and then ask God to bless them?

Dear Lord, please guide me today. Help me not to act on my own wisdom, as I realise how often this is lacking... Help me to seek Your will in every situation. Amen.

Are You A Dummy?

“There's plenty of money out there. They print more every day. But this ticket, there's only five of them in the whole world, and that's all there's ever going to be. Only a dummy would give this up for something as common as money. Are you a dummy?”
Grandpa George, from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl (2005 film)

Problems and Opportunities

It was a particularly wet and miserable morning - and I couldn't just turn over and go back to sleep. I had to get up to go to work. I hadn't slept well the night before - too many things on my mind - and I was in pain with an annoying ailment so as a result I was feeling particularly low. There seemed to be nothing but an endless string of problems ahead of me...

In fact, I started seeing these problems in a tangible way - if you excuse the literary reference, it was just like the heads of the Hydra - cut off one, and two more would take its place.

Inspired by the way my mind was working this out, I sought suitable inspiration to combat this online - as I sat on the train to work I googled a quotation or two. And then I read this:

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognised a problem and turned it into an opportunity."
(Joseph Sugarman)

You know, I find it hard sometimes to see the opportunity behind the problem. Sometimes I can't seem to see the wood for the trees! However, I've been trying hard this week to actively spot the opportunity in each problem I encounter.

"Tho’ we are weak, His grace is everything we need;
We’re made of clay but this treasure is within.
He turns our weaknesses into His opportunities,
So that the glory goes to Him….."
(lyrics from 'Rejoice, Rejoice' by Graham Kendrick)