Wisdom 14

In the previous article, we tackled the wise reactions of a wise man in situations and events that surround him as he understands their nature, thus makes the right decisions at the right times. We also talked about the way wise people handle problems and crises they encounter, believing that man should build bridges of hope above rivers of despair.

Wisdom and Problem-Solving:
In the midst of daily life’s situations and problems, the wise man analyzes the problem and he is fully aware of its type and depth, so he finds the best way to solve it, which reminds me of an old saying that goes: “We don’t often see the reality of things, because we just read the title.”

Many people can’t solve their problems because they are shallow, they limit themselves to reading the title only, they don’t follow the wise man’s example, as he exerts his effort to totally understand and consider deeply, until he realizes the dimensions and the reality of the problem, hence solving it.

A story tells of a king who ruled a very large kingdom.
One day, the king went out on a journey to inspect the living conditions of the people of his kingdom. After his journey, he returned with swollen feet as he had walked along many unpaved roads. Consequently, he issued a decree to cover all the streets of his kingdom with leather.

However, one of his wise counselors advised him to make a small piece of leather just under his feet to protect them, and that was the origin of shoemaking.
Thus, the wise man had recognized the problem and provided the appropriate and practical solution.

For a wise person can help others solve their problems, even the most impossible ones, as he deals profoundly with everything and understands the real reasons behind the problems they suffer.

One story tells of a Chinese woman who lived happily with her only son. At the sudden death of her son, she became exceedingly mournful, so she went to the wise man of the village and asked him to find her a way to get her son back, and that she would endure all the consequences, however hard they were! Then the wise old man pondered for a little while, then said: “You have to fetch me one mustard seed from a household that has never experienced grief! Then I can find you a way.”

The woman started knocking at the doors of the village one by one, searching for a household that had never experienced grief, to get the mustard seed. She stopped by the first house along her way, and a young woman opened the door; she asked her: “Have you ever experienced grief?” The young woman replied: “My house has experienced nothing but grief! For my husband passed away and has left me with four kids, there was no other way to support them except selling my possessions, so I have only little left.” The woman was so touched and tried to comfort her. Finally, at the end of the visit, they’d become friends.

After that she moved to the next house, hoping to find a household that hadn’t experienced grief, but she learned from the housewife that her husband was extremely sick, and she didn’t have any food for her kids, so she took pity on that family and decided to help them. Therefore, she went to the market and bought them food of every kind: meat, vegetables, beans, flour, oil and fruit, and she returned to the housewife and helped her prepare food for the kids. After feeding them, she bid them goodbye, hoping to visit them the next evening.

In the morning, the woman started all over again, wandering from house to house, searching for the mustard seed, however, she didn’t find a single household that had never experienced grief, so she would be able to get the seed.
The woman was so tenderhearted that she tried to help and delight every household she visited. Over time, that woman became the friend of everybody in the village, and had forgotten all about the mustard seed, as she was preoccupied with everybody’s sufferings and emotions.

Thus the wise man of the village had given the woman the best prescription ever for overcoming her grief. Although she didn’t find the mustard seed, she truly found the most idealistic prescription to overcome her grief, pain and suffering. Instead of getting her son back, all the village children became her own. Moreover, she found herself a father, mother, brother and sister, from the moment she entered the first house in the village.

A wise person wins souls:
A wise human perceives that severity, cruelness, and violence is no way to solve others’ problems, but rather by winning everybody’s love, for he is well aware that “He who wins souls is wise.” So he helps everybody and cares for everyone, even those with whom he is in conflict.

In the past, we heard tell of a very wealthy man, who was devoted and righteous, worshipping God with a lot of prayers and fasting. He was also so generous that everybody loved him.

One day, a very poor, hungry man came to him seeking food, so he gave him shelter, food and drink. As the poor man was eating, the rich man talked to him about God and His love, then amazingly, the poor man said: “I don’t love God, for He wasn’t fair to me! He hasn’t given me any money. Besides, He is the reason for my poverty and misery. He made me beg all the days of my life!”

Then he started reviling and blaspheming God!! So the rich man lifted up the food from before him and drove him out of his house. Accordingly, the poor man complained of him to the king, who was a wise man.
The next day, the king summoned the rich man and asked him: “Why did you kick the poor man out of your house?”

Then the rich man answered: “Because he blasphemed against God’s name, so I defended God and kicked him out.” Then the king said: “Who asked you to defend God? God loves this poor man, supports him, supplies his needs and takes good care of him, in spite of his constant insults. God has endured him for so many years, yet you couldn’t endure him for only an hour!” Thus wise people endure, love and help everybody to overcome their problems, and…
To be continued…