Attentive hearts and treasured wisdom
We are in a season of change and transition, which may be less evident from our location in the Golden State. There is a subtle shift in the temperatures, and the leaves are changing color on some of our trees transplanted from the northern climes. We are bidding the summer and summer quarter to an end in preparation for the new academic year on the university side of LLUH. The end of summer is often filled with nostalgia for lazy days or a slower pace, yet in our healthcare environment, many of us maintain a similar pace year-round. Inherent in seasons of transitions are opportunities for reflecting, recalibrating, and refocusing. We can use this time to think about habits or practices we must change or incorporate to finish the calendar year well. For many others, we identify routines or processes that will set us up for success as we begin a new academic year.
Engaging collaboratively with peers or wise ones is integral in determining how to work hard and smart. The scriptures, especially the book of Proverbs, are another source of wisdom for me. In the second chapter, we encounter words of prudence being imparted from a father to a son:
“My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding.” (Proverbs 2:1-2)
As a teen and young adult, I remember receiving counsel from my mother, grandmother, aunt, or any other adult who wanted to chime in. How impatient I was! My automatic response was, “I know, I know.” On one occasion, my Mom pointed out the importance of accepting unsolicited wisdom because she said I didn’t know when it would come in handy. Those were indeed words to live by. Developing curiosity and seeking to learn from others creates a climate to receive and share wisdom. Those early experiences of listening to people older than me or accepting the invitation to learn from individuals who were most different from me have contributed to the person I am today. While engaged in my studies at Claremont School of Theology these past five years, I sought the wisdom of those ahead of me, professors and alums, to determine the wisest ways to work, parent, and be a student. Wisdom must be pursued, treasured, remembered, and passed on to others. The person who intentionally seeks wisdom will be satisfied.
According to the Father in Proverbs, there are many dividends in searching for wisdom — a direct path to God, protection from temptation and evil, and a pleasant life. While we grapple with how to provide quality healthcare, remain on our mission, and become the next generation of healthcare professionals or researchers, I hope we don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from each other. Much wisdom lurks in our classrooms, labs, offices, and hallways. I hope you will join me in seeking it out. At a minimum, we will discover together that the Father was right, “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” (Proverbs 1:5)
May our eyes be open and our ears be attentive to the wisdom around us.
—Dilys Brooks, PhD, BCC, is campus chaplain for Loma Linda University.
