Wisdom 12

In our previous article, we mentioned how a wise man does not hurt anyone by his judgment, because of his perception and knowledge of all details of issues. Accordingly, he never hastens in judging others. We also discussed his appreciation of everyone, no matter how things appear at the superficial level.

A wise person and teamwork:
As the Scripture says: “The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.” Good and prosperity are the natural outcome for everyone surrounding a wise person, as a result of his attitude and his principles in life. Because he appreciates the value of his talents and those of others as well, and he is very well aware of the importance of cooperation and integration between everyone, for the good and the happiness of the community.

I like the story about a group of wise people who lived happily, because every member appreciated the role of the others towards him. Contrary to another unwise group, who lived in misery.

The story tells us of a wealthy man who didn’t value the role of others in his life, thinking he had everything and didn’t need anybody, until it happened one day that he dreamed of his passing away to heaven where he roamed everywhere, and stumbled upon a very large hall, which he entered.

There he saw a great number of people sitting at a banquet serving all kinds of delicacies. However, oddly, whenever they tried to eat, they could not bring the food to their mouths! Then he tried to figure out why that was! He found out that the left hand of every person was tightly tied to his side, while a two-meter long spoon was tied to the right hand, so that whenever anyone tried to feed himself he could not reach the food, because of the length of the spoon. Those people were so hungry and angry in spite of the sumptuous food they had!!

When he inquired about them, he was told that those were the self-centered people who had so much, but neither gave nor shared with the destitute. They are the selfish who want everything for themselves alone, and are incapable of achieving satisfaction, despite their wealth, because they are only self-seeking and self-absorbed.

After leaving that hall, he hastened to enter another hall opposite, and there he saw another group of people in a similar setting to what he had seen previously, but they were so happy and delighted, contrary to the other group, so he was surprised!!

Soon, he discovered the mystery behind their happiness; he saw each one generously fill his spoon with food, and feed not himself, but the person sitting opposite him. Thus everybody ate, was nourished and enjoyed everything he had.

Before leaving the hall, he was told: “Those are the self-sacrificing people who are excessively generous to others, loving, sharing and seeking others’ pleasure and well-being. They also realized that the main concern in life with all its riches, is loving others. Therefore, they could eat and be filled, because everyone was concerned with the other’s welfare perceiving his role in life, altruistically and unselfishly.”

The wise person and power:
So, a wise human appreciates the importance and value of the role of every man through wisdom, even if that role in life is minor, besides, wisdom strengthens him according to the Scripture’s words: “Wisdom strengthens the wise.”
Thus, the wise man’s strength stems from his perception and appreciation, not his funds nor his possessions, so that he can utilize everything he has to achieve his work and make those around him happy.

This reminds me of the man who was about to throw a piece of wood into the fire to warmth himself, and was amazed when an old man offered to buy that wood, and he agreed and sold it. He then saw the old man shape the piece of wood using his knife to make a beautiful flute, on which he played such sweet melodies that the people who passed by were not only stopping, listening and enjoying its remarkable tunes, but one of them who was a wealthy man, wanted to pay a very high price for the flute, too!!

I wonder which of them was wiser, the person who saw the piece of wood as fuel, or the old man who saw it as a valuable musical instrument, with its emotional and material value!!

A wise person is like a maestro:
A wise person is like the conductor in a concert, who can discern the important role of every musical instrument in the band, so if one of them stops, it would impact the whole work.

Once, at a concert, a flutist considered his role too small, insignificant and unnoticed while playing a melody, so he decided that he would not participate. Therefore, he just put the flute between his lips but he didn’t play, thinking that no-one would notice. Yet, suddenly, the conductor stopped and asked: “Where is the flute?!”
Likewise, a wise person is aware that life is a melody played by all of humanity, and the role of everyone is indispensable for the splendor of that melody, or else the beautiful melody would become inharmonious, moreover, a wise person immediately notices the absence of any person, acknowledging every essential role and the participation of everyone.