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Proverbs 1:20-21: “Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate.”

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the seriousness of the Proverbs. So when earthy wisdom comes my way, which concurs with the heady wisdom of Solomon, I like to share some of it.

What’s more earthy than cow-persons (politically correct) chawing on life from their viewpoint?

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence , try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Proverbs 4:25-27: “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”

The above proverb is about following what is right and true, and not so much about one’s career path. Yet, the two work together.

We’ve just had Inauguration Day for our new president. Inspiring, historic, and to use Charles Gibson’s favorite—“extraordinary!”

Barack Obama now fills the 44th presidency of the U.S.A. So, it’s obvious that he is the 44th president. Even Mr. Obama thought it was obvious, since he stated in his speech that America has seen 44 Americans take the presidential oath of office.

BUT—obvious isn’t always true. Mr. Obama is actually the 43th American to be president. How so?

Because Grover Cleveland had two non-consecutive terms. He was the 22nd President from 1885 and 1889 and the 24th President from 1893 to 1897.

Mr. Cleveland was a man of utmost integrity, being introduced early in life (his father was a Presbyterian minister) to the Scriptures. His contemporaries praised him for his honesty and commitment to the highest principles in all aspects of his life.

I like what biographer Allan Nevins wrote: “In Grover Cleveland the greatness lies in typical rather than unusual qualities. He had no endowments that thousands of men do not have. He possessed honesty, courage, firmness, independence, and common sense. But he possessed them to a degree other men do not.”

Neither of Cleveland’s terms were easy—he fought corruption, strong unscrupulous lobbies, and a recession. Nevins wrote: “Cleveland’s blunt, honest ways won him popular acclaim, but they also gained him the enmity of certain factions of his own party, especially the Tammany Hall oganization in New York City.”

In the federal government, Cleveland was a reformer, reducing bureaucracy and filling positions based more on merit than party loyalty.

He began his first presidency as a bachelor, but that didn’t last long. He married 21-year-old Frances Folsom, who became the youngest First Lady and still holds that record! She was one of the most beautiful too.

We might judge Cleveland harshly for marrying someone 28 years younger. That’s obvious, but the whole story would lend understanding. You might want to check it out on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grover_Cleveland”>

In 1908, Cleveland died after a heart attack. His last words echo the Proverbs so well: “I have tried so hard to do right.”

We can pray that our new president and all of our leaders, during this difficult time in our history, will also have the same path marked out clearly before them.

“Our character…is an omen of our destiny, and the more integrity we have and keep, the simpler and nobler that destiny is likely to be.” – George Santayana (1863-1952).

Proverbs 1:11, 13: “They [sinners] may say, ‘Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for the fun, let’s ambush the innocent!…. Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.”

That proverb just doesn’t sound very positive, does it? We’d prefer this one: “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). That sounds so just, like karma or “the law of attraction” that’s touted by so many western and eastern gurus today.

Like Bob Proctor: “See yourself living in abundance and you will attract it. It works every time, with every person.” This so-called law of attraction permeates the best-selling THE SECRET by Rhonda Byrnes, which has been featured often on the Oprah show.

Solomon tells us that there are other factors that influence what we get in life. For instance, there is something called “evil” by the realists. “Evil” is a force that the new-age and universal-mind teachers don’t take into account. They say: We attract what we get. Even diseases and accidents that happen to us we somehow caused by thinking the wrong thoughts. We “attracted” these results. And they say this is an unbendable, unchanging law. Is there such a law?

Anne responded to my post of January 12 with a sad yet heart-warming story. Please read it in the “comments.” In this personal experience, Anne illustrates that good people suffer because of the works of unjust people. Just think of the thousands of right-living people who are suffering because of unbridled greed by people with their sophisticated schemes, like Kenneth Lay of the Enron fiasco and Bernard Madoff, who stole over $50 billion from regular folks.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of these ripped-off folks will die prematurely because of these thefts. “Let’s hide and kill the innocent” is the motivation by these financial, legal and political wizards who present themselves as being “very nice people” who really care for their clients.

Millions are suffering great distress today because of these crooked, powerful people. What can we do? Anne offers a wonderful insight: Share what you can with someone who needs help and encouragement. By doing so, you will reap what you sow.

In this life, we also often reap what we don’t sow—the weeds that other people sow in our garden. If the law of attraction is true, as Bob Proctor says, then how did we attract those weeds? Or, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

That’s something we’ll need to talk about next time.

“Wisdom outweighs any wealth.” Sophocles (496 BC – 406 BC).

Proverbs 22:17-18. “Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.”

People in the western world generally hate too much repetition. Let me state that in different words: We hate to hear the same thing over and over again!

OK—that was tongue in cheek. Perhaps there are a few books we might read a second time, or movies we’ll see again. Our world gives us new choices every day—new movies, books, TV programs, hit songs.

You might ask why so many viewers watch TV repeats. Perhaps we believe we’ll gain some new perspective or appreciation we didn’t derive the first time around. Or—perhaps it’s even a more effective drug the second time around!

What does this bit of personal philosophy have to do with Solomon’s Proverbs? You’ll notice a lot of repetition, often in slightly different ways. For instance, there are several dozen proverbs urging us to get wisdom with all our strength and desire.

Here’s my repetition. I mentioned Steven K. Scott several months ago, how he faced many failures in his first five years out of college. Here are his statistics from his book, Simple Steps To Impossible Dreams.

COLLEGE CLASS OF 1970
Year        Job & Salary                Duration       Outcome
1971      1st, $600/mo.              4 months       quit
1971      2nd, started business  8 months       failed
1972      3rd, $1,000/mo.          9 months       fired
1973      4th, $1,000/mo.           9 months      quit
1974      5th, $1,100/mo,           5 months       quit
1974      6th, started business    9 months       failed
1975      7th, $1,000/mo.            4 months       fired
1975      8th, $1,100/mo.            4 months       quit
1976      9th, $1,500/mo.            4 months       quit

Scott was earning less than half the national average for households in America.

Just two years earlier Scott had asked his friend and family counselor, Dr. Gary Smalley, for advice. Smalley said: “I promise you that if you’ll do just one thing, within two years you’ll be smarter than your bosses. And I’ll bet you’ll be a millionaire within five years.”

The advice? Read a chapter a day of Solomon’s Proverbs and make notes. Scott did that. Within two years, he found a business partner. Just a few months later their company was making a million dollars a month.

Eventually, Scott would earn as much as $500,000 a month, write five best-selling books, and become a producer and director of American Telecast Corporation.

What does he credit for his success? Learning and following the wisdom of the Proverbs.

Today’s world is in a mess both financially and morally. Solomon stated that his wisdom came directly from the Creator. Is there a better source? I don’t think so. You’ll notice, though, that this wisdom is down-to-earth–pragmatic, workable and ethical.

I want more of that kind of wisdom. Join me in finding it? Thanks.

“Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.” – Immanuel Kant (1724-1804).

Proverbs 21:28-29: “A false witness will be cut off, but a credible witness will be allowed to speak. The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act.”

If you were really wise, you wouldn’t be able to honestly come up with excuses for skipping responsibilities such as work, school and family duties. Or even studying the Book of Proverbs every day. Four fingers point back at me!

According to one researcher, 33% of employees played hooky last year by pretending to be sick. I’ve often found it hard work to come up with a good excuse for missing obligations. Now, it’s easier with the following list, adapted from Jason Ferrara’s article in CareerBuilder.com.

1. “I didn’t want to lose my parking space in front of my house.” Let’s see—will that work for the rest of the week, the year?

2. “I hit a turkey while riding my bike.” And the turkey hit back.

3. “I had a heart attack this morning, but I’m all better now.” And tomorrow it’ll be a brain tumor, but I can handle that too once I’m not at work.

4. “I donated too much blood.” And now I’ve replenishing it with beer.

5. “My dog was stressed out after a family reunion.” So, quit having family reunions for your dog.

6. “I was kicked by a deer.” I won’t tell you where. The deer had joined our family reunion.

7. “Remember that holiday party we had last week? Well, I kissed the mailroom intern and got mono. The company should post some sort of warning to tell us that could happen.” That excuse really “pushes the envelope.”

8. “I swallowed too much mouthwash.” No, wait, that was vodka!

9. “My wife burned all my clothes and I had nothing to wear to work.” So, wear her clothes. Judging by her strength, I bet they’ll fit.

10. “A soda fell out of the refrigerator and injured my toe.” That’s a valid excuse if somehow your toe is necessary for your job, like being a kicker for the New York Giants.

It’s twelve days into the new year, and I’m examining my thinking and the excuses why I haven’t consistently followed my own plan for gaining wisdom from the Proverbs every day. The best one I can think of: “Over the holidays I had too much of that turkey I had hit with my bike and my wife roasted. Then she roasted all my clothes and I couldn’t stop her because of my hurt toe, which happened when I ran outside to protect my parking spot; a deer ran into me and I had a heart attack (from which I recovered fine), then later I swallowed my toothpaste. But about that case of mono–”

With a brilliant excuse like that, how could anyone think I’m not one of the wisest persons around?

“Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.” Don Marquis (1878-1937).

Provferbs 24:5-6. “The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger. So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.”

Do you feel like you’re in a personal war sometimes? You against people who try to take advantage of you; you against the forces of nature; you against yourself. Those are the three basic plots for good novels. They’re basic because they reflect our human condition.

That’s why people look for workable solutions to their struggles, weapons to defeat the adversary, knowledge to win over ignorance and falsity.

The good news is that Solomon’s Proverbs offer strength training. They give you the basics for a well-rounded life founded on true principles that have been revealed by a Higher Source. They are pregnant with pragmatism, the philosophy that places practicality at its core.

Solomon’s proverbs are as practical as you can get. But they also recognize a moral law. After all, “the end does not justify the means.” You don’t rob a bank so you can help people in poverty: the Robin Hood mentality. And the mentality underlying the justifications most terrorists use.

In order to be successful in all areas of life, what talents do we need to develop? And does the book of Proverbs offer us direction in those areas? Here is a short list.

Diligence and persistence: Proverbs 22:19.
Vision and hope: Proverbs 29:18, Proverbs 13:12.
Clear communications: Proverbs 16:25.
Need for counsel. Proverbs 15:22.
Growing in joy and gratitude. Proverbs 17:22.
Kindness and truth. Proverbs 3:3-4.
Graciousness. Proverbs 11:16.
Handling conflict and adversity. Proverbs 18:19.
Offering and accepting criticism. Proverbs 15:22.
Resolving anger. Proverbs 16:32.
Rightly judging matters. Proverbs 14:15.
Handling greed and materialism. Proverbs 1:19.
The lions of pride. Proverbs 16:18.

Well, that’s a start! I have A Topical Treasury of Proverbs by Thomas B. Clarke that has 100 topics in the table of contents, all the way from “Able to Be Corrected” to “Zeal.” But they are not a jumble of topics and sayings; they all work together for a balanced plan in designing the best life you can have.

That’s the kind of life I want, so I’ll be exploring this wisdom for months to come and applying them as best as I can to my life. I hope you’ll join me.

“Please give me some good advice in your next letter. I promise not to follow it.” – Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950), Letters.

Proverbs 2:9-10: Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.”

We often hear the phrase: “Where the rubber meets the road.” Perhaps it originated about 40 years ago when a deep-voiced jingle advertised: “Goodyear—where the rubber meets the road.” That means the moment of truth, the practical use of something. No matter what features a tire has, what really counts is how it grips the road.

How workable in our real lives is the wisdom of the Bible, particularly Solomon’s writings—Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon?

Is it just esoteric knowledge—intriguing to know but of little value in our day-by-day activities?

When I was taking teacher training at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus, I became intrigued with the various schools of educational philosophy. Above all the theories, pragmatism held the strongest sway. Much of western life is based on this philosophy. Even before it was defined by William James and Charles Sanders Peirce in the late 1900s, it already had manifested itself in most of America—its expansion, work ethic, inventions, accomplishments, attitudes.

Even in much of today’s self-help teaching, pragmatism is the norm. If certain thoughts and teachings don’t bring about solutions, why adopt them? Progress and practicality—those define the test of pragmatism. If it doesn’t bring observable results, then chuck it. After all, what good is it?

Why think…if you don’t grow rich?

Why think big—if you don’t get big rewards?

Why win friends—if you don’t influence people who can bring you results?

Why power-up with positive thinking—if it doesn’t advance your goals?

Why learn “The Secret”—if you can’t “have, be, or do anything you want?”

THE PROVERBS is as pragmatic as you can get: “Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives” (Proverbs 1:3).

But this wisdom goes beyond that. Pragmaticism is really naturalism—you got to test and see it before you believe it. Basically, it leaves out the concept of a Higher Being, a Creator. It focuses on experiential education, hands-on learning. Which isn’t bad in itself. But to ignore “revealed wisdom,” or wisdom tested for thousands of years, places the learner in a never-catch-up position. Most philosophers of whatever ilk admit that you “got to begin somewhere.”

Descartes said: “I think; therefore I am.”

Today, some women I know say: “I shop; therefore I am.”

And some guys say: “I drink beer; therefore I…burp!…am.”

I know that I won’t attract many readers if I don’t offer an achievable path to success. Most people don’t want head-knowledge; they want what works. I’m into that type of thinking too. But I also want my path to be holistic, not a shortcut or manipulation that hurts myself and others. What I want to offer, as much as I can, is pragmaticism founded on the theory that the whole is bigger than its parts. Well-balanced success is much more than any particular philosophy—it is the outcome of all of life.

I know that’s quite a large bite. And I’m going to have to chew on a lot of research and thinking. So I’m not committing to a new post every day. My aim is three per week.

Thanks for sticking with me and sharing your thoughts.

“Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.” – B. F. Skinner, American psychologist (1904-1990).