Choosing Wisdom

Being wise is not just about knowing random facts, a human encyclopedia you would say. It’s not just about being older with a collection of life experiences to guide your choices. Wisdom is even more abstract. It is an intangible energy that connects a person to the universe and in turn, to other people within the universe. Wisdom is what connects me to those around me, to nature, and to God.

A Welcoming Angel-She Comforts Me in my Struggle

This trip to Greece is not simply a chance to study abroad, or to experience the culture of another country, but for me, the curriculum helps me learn more about the history of Judaism and then Christianity. I have been having a tough time blending my faith with what I’m learning in this class. So many pieces of literature have been written for specific purposes, but under guises. For example, the book of Daniel and the books of Enoch were written under false names to give the author more credibility, especially since these books are heavy in prophecy and apocalypticism. Any old Joe writing these books wouldn’t have had the same respect or authority to be making such outrageous claims in literature so they bend the truth a little-mix a little water and wine.

I understand why they do this, really. But what bothers me is the fact that had I never taken this class, I would have expected myself to be able to read through the Bible and take everything as truth. Now I am learning that the Bible is written in code at times, under false names, with hypothetical scenarios meant to teach us how to live our lives and how to respond in different situations. So how am I supposed to respond to the Bible? I am trying to maintain my faith while realizing that so much of the Bible is fictional. People used to try to tell me this before-that the Bible is all fiction-but the way they vocalized this to me was in a negative connotation while they argue that God doesn’t exist. In situations like that, I typically respond with anger. It’s one thing to tell me that you don’t believe in God but it is another to try to damage my relationship with God by forcing negative conversations on me. So, I never listened to them. Now I am learning that while things in the Bible are not outright FALSE but a version of the truth written for specific purposes.

I see God in the beauty of the world and in its people. 

So now, I am here in Rhodes thinking more about God and my personal relationship. Here I will feel my faith waiver a little but I am confident that I will come out of this trip stronger in my faith and more wise-more connected to code and to those around me. I know I will be a better Christian, a better person and stronger in my convictions after this experience. I choose wisdom, that connection and I choose God.