03
03
What wisdom isn’t
Written by Nathan on March 3, 2009 at 12:00 am from A Month of Wisdom.
Written by Nathan on March 3, 2009 at 12:00 am from A Month of Wisdom.
Perhaps with only two chapters committed to writing it’s early for broad declarations, but there are a few notable omissions or distinctions I’ve picked up on. Wisdom appears not to deal with business acumen or the possession of some sort of know-how. In fact, Wisdom seems to be set apart form knowledge and sense explicitly, as if there’s apart though obviously related.
Of course, Solomon started chapter one saying this was a manual for living rather than a guide to getting rich or finding love or even finding happiness. So perhaps he’s just reinforcing this book as a wisdom for life. But perhaps life is the exclusive territory of wisdom and when we try to parcel it to some meager portion of life we’re doomed to failure.
I suppose I’ll find out in either case over the next month.
03
01
Smart start
Written by Nathan on March 1, 2009 at 11:58 pm from A Month of Wisdom.
Written by Nathan on March 1, 2009 at 11:58 pm from A Month of Wisdom.
It was thousands of years ago that Solomon earned the title of “world’s wisest man” and despite the time passed, it’s obvious that wisdom ages well. One chapter in, and I’m struck already how he seems to tap into the sort of thinking that should have staved off wars, financial crises, greed and despair. I suspect that my brain will quickly gain too much weight for my neck to support, and I’ll be forced to buy some awkward big brain neck-support brace. In the meantime, I’ll soldier on.
Here’s what I wrote today (click on either to enlarge):
I’m taking passages I find especially relevant or key and writing them larger – today I pulled out:
Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God;
only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.
…and:
When you grab all you can get, that’s what happens:
the more you get, the less you are.
I also meant to call out:
A manual for living,
for learning what’s right and just and fair;
…but I wasn’t paying enough attention and wrote before realizing how remarkable a line that it. To distinguish a manual by what’s right, just and fair rather than by what will bring a man success. What a grand distinction.
03
01
A Month of Wisdom
Written by Nathan on March 1, 2009 at 10:51 pm from A Month of Wisdom.
Written by Nathan on March 1, 2009 at 10:51 pm from A Month of Wisdom.
This month, every day, I’m going to handwrite a chapter from the book of Proverbs. I’m writing in a Moleskine, using the Message translation of the Bible. Each chapter will take only a few minutes to transcribe from type to script. But in reading a book reported to be written by the wisest man who ever lived, I’m hoping to find more than simply the sum of his words.
Why wisdom? Certainly there are other pursuits, many more noble than wisdom. But with a third child in my home, living in a country with economic instability, perhaps a bit of wisdom would be a prudent pursuit. And where better to look for that wisdom than in the Holy Bible? As John Russell once said,
A proverb is one man’s wit and all men’s wisdom.
It’s likely he didn’t mean that quite as I’m taking it, but for all the sources of wisdom man has turned to, few have endured so much or so well as the Bible. Join me this month and add your paper and ink to Solomon‘s word and see if we can all find a little wisdom.
02
28
Ending with a bit of a whimper
Written by Nathan on February 28, 2009 at 11:54 pm from A Month of Listening.
Written by Nathan on February 28, 2009 at 11:54 pm from A Month of Listening.
Whimpering, chiefly from my newborn, is a defining sound in my life. Right now, lying in bed, I’ve been listening to her steady sounds for hours. No excuse is ever brilliant, but I have great (in my estimation) interviews yet unposted, largely owning to the new and darling whimpered in my life.
Though this month is ending with it’s own sort of whimper, I think perhaps it’s a tribute to my rekindled listening skills than I’m paying attention to the right people and places instead of to the posting of the interviews. They will get posted, but not until the right time is back.
In the meantime, tomorrow the next month project will be revealed. That, of course, means I’ll have to settle on which of the three possible ideas I go with. Decisions, decisions.
02
22
The art of crafting
Written by Nathan on February 22, 2009 at 11:40 pm from A Month of Listening.
Written by Nathan on February 22, 2009 at 11:40 pm from A Month of Listening.
Tonight I interviewed extraordinary crafter Lauren Alane Bradshaw about the art of making things.
Year of Months / A Month of Listening Day 20 – Lauren Alane Bradshaw from Nathan Clark on Vimeo.
02
22
Great people with great interviews
Written by Nathan on February 22, 2009 at 12:00 am from A Month of Listening.
Written by Nathan on February 22, 2009 at 12:00 am from A Month of Listening.
I have some great interviews to get posted. This month I’ve had the privilege of listening to friends, family and coworkers and without exception they have been wonderful.
I’m not sure what project I can undertake next month that will live up to this project’s standard, but I have a week to figure that out. Ideas, as always, are welcome!
02
19
Dialogue with my daughter
Written by Nathan on February 19, 2009 at 11:56 pm from A Month of Listening.
Written by Nathan on February 19, 2009 at 11:56 pm from A Month of Listening.
Tonight I interviewed my week-old daughter, Arden. (She’s adorable.)
Year of Months / A Month of Listening Day 19 – Arden Clark from Nathan Clark on Vimeo.
02
18
Behind the lens, ahead of the curve
Written by Nathan on February 18, 2009 at 11:56 pm from A Month of Listening.
Written by Nathan on February 18, 2009 at 11:56 pm from A Month of Listening.
Tonight I interviewed John Deeb, one of Orlando’s finest photographers about his craft, his business and his plans for what’s next.
Year of Months / A Month of Listening Day 18 – John Deeb from Nathan Clark on Vimeo.
02
17
Pianos, perseverance and Pete
Written by Nathan on February 17, 2009 at 11:52 pm from A Month of Listening.
Written by Nathan on February 17, 2009 at 11:52 pm from A Month of Listening.
Interview with Pete Geiger, pianist, songwriter and singer, as he drives through Alabama.
Year of Months / A Month of Listening Day 17 from Nathan Clark on Vimeo.
02
16
Thoughts on design
Written by Nathan on February 16, 2009 at 11:52 pm from A Month of Listening.
Written by Nathan on February 16, 2009 at 11:52 pm from A Month of Listening.
Today’s interview was with Peter Centofante, good friend, designer, product conceiver and thinker currently at immersion digital.
Year of Months / A Month of Listening Day 16 from Nathan Clark on Vimeo.