Life. From the beginning it is a competition. Millions of sperm racing to find the solitary egg and, once found, then striving to discover a pathway inside. Success! The conception of a new homosapien, through the marriage of sperm and egg, concludes life’s first competition. Now the intricate weaving together of all the minute genetic fingerprints from mother and father begins. Whether you accept the blueprint of the creationist, evolutionist, or proponent of intelligent design the reality is the joining of two cells initiates the development of billions of cells each with their own unique contribution to the final product, a person. How then can we understand the journey from this common beginning to the point of developing wisdom? What is wisdom and why is it valued?
Wisdom in its most easily fashioned definition may be understood simply as good judgment. Biologically speaking, to exercise judgment we must collect and analyze sensory data perceived through our senses. Though we are woefully inferior to most other inhabitants of this planet with regard to our sensory abilities we are far superior to them in brain development. The human brain is amazing in its complexity and capacity for data collection and analysis. Though we now have the technology to collect and process data at a higher rate than the human brain we have not been able to replace the other components necessary for what we acknowledge as wisdom. For you see, our effort to understand wisdom as good judgment is inadequate if dependent on the collection and analysis of data alone. Computers do a remarkable job in this form of decision-making. Yet we would not usually call a computer wise. Though there is some similarity in decision making between human beings and computers there are some elements uniquely human in their contribution to good judgment. The human brain is the organ of the body with which we capture our experience. It is the functional unit, which collects, organizes, distributes and stores electrochemical energy, which is the product of living. This alone is not the end point of our journey but rather the junction where we are introduced to that intangible product of our brain, the mind.
The human mind is much like the brain in that it is certainly not fully understood. It too is one of the last frontiers of knowledge and the subject of scientific exploration. The mind is where all the elements of our experience are interpreted and utilized to determine our efforts at knowing the world as it is. Biology alone is not enough to be wise rather it also involves psychology. Wisdom, if understood as good judgment, is the product at multiple learning trials over time. Simply put there is a better chance for those who live longer to develop wisdom. The art of living longer may actually be one example of good judgment! However, all human beings do not learn equally or adequately from experience. Therefore, wisdom is more than exposure to experience over time. Longevity then is not the only factor, which contributes to the development of wisdom, though it may be necessary to a point. We see then our journey has taken us from the microscopic, cellular biology of the brain to the intangible, invisible processes of the mind! This factor is the one of the most definitive boundaries, which serves to separate those deemed wise and those deemed unwise. The unique biological and genetic gifts of the parents are formed into the unique personhood of the individual based upon their responses to their life experiences. This pattern of choosing over time the response to the challenges of life is what develops the distinctive pattern of one person different from another, even if identical twins. Yet even as we consider the influence of the mind on the process of developing wisdom there is another factor often recognized in those we call wise. They are spiritual.
This final essential element of wisdom is the product of acknowledging that people across time have understood the necessity of incorporating their spiritual awareness in understanding and dealing with the realities of their lives. Though this may take many different forms culturally and religiously the usual theme is affirmation that there is one who is greater than we are who provides for us and guides us through our lives offering us hope and opportunity to grow deeply connected. This characteristic is often noted in those we call wise due to their sense of internal peace and demonstrated respect for others even during times of crisis. The triad of biology, psychology, and theology then summarizes the necessary personal attributes of those who would typically be called wise.
We know them when we see them. They are usually older than we are and they appear to be at peace with themselves and others. They are usually slow to speak and what they say has an interesting quality of taking the most profound and troubling puzzle in our lives and making it seem transparent and simple. They advise us even when we are not aware and effect us in a manner not understood at times until years afterward. Somehow, they have internalized and deliberately synthesized the lessons of the past to anticipate the demands of the future while living in the present. They do not always tell us what they know and often require us to wrestle with our own demons understanding the process of personal growth. Usually we call them Grandma or Grandpa, perhaps Mom or Dad. We are drawn to them when we know the importance of the answer they may offer.
Some of you reading this may have lived long enough and well enough to be one of those known as wise. If so, remember there are those who may turn to you to understand how to survive, others may ask for guidance on how to thrive. Each request has its own merits and is the responsibility of those who hold the knowledge. I close with the lyrics from two songs representing the range of life events you may be able to help others with. Many will ask for immediate direction and quick solutions like the Kenny Rogers song the Gambler offers; “You gotta know when to hold em, and when to fold em. Know when to walk away and when to run.” However, the song “Nature Boy”, popularized by Nat “King” Cole, offers the answer most of us are looking for to life’s greatest mystery and most difficult lesson; “… and then one day, one magic day he came my way. And though we spoke of many things, fools and kings, this he said to me. The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”
Michael D. Griffith, Ph.D.
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