Proverbs, Rubies, Wisdom, and Acts!
July is one of our family birthday months. Ruby is the “birthstone” for that month. I never see a ruby without thinking of my sister, our late father, and a nephew. The stones are found (and polished) with such wonderful hues of red. Even the word “Ruby” creates a particular image in our minds. (I always think of Papa’s college ring-with-a-ruby of which he was so proud.)
Taking associations a little further I think of Dorothy and her ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz.…or the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. Then the verse from the Holy Bible from Proverbs 8 flitted through my brain, (1)”Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? …(11) for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” Ah….Wisdom! That elusive yet most desired of qualities. To be able to discern and rightly speak or teach, not just to know or think you know or pretend to know. Or confuse the issue because of ignorance. We are overwhelmed with the shadows of ignorance and so long for Wisdom. And Truth. The struggle is not only “out there” but inside ourselves as well.
Where do we start first? Hmmm.…right now I am in the middle of preparing a Sunday School (I know, old school) lesson in Acts. About women in the New Testament. Specifically Lydia, a dyer of purple (Ruby purple? You can Google her. An amazing woman…) And Priscilla. Such a leader! Wife of Aquila who had much wisdom and along with her husband taught and also opened up their home to people seeking to learn more about Jesus Christ. All brave people seeking to do the “right thing” in helping Paul , to align their hearts and actions with what they felt to be true.
Perhaps if we could begin to do just that. To align or balance our hearts and our actions with what we understand as being true to ourselves but at the same time opening up our hearts and homes. Just as in Acts, it is up to the Holy Spirit to take it from there. (Come to think of it, the “color” for the Holy Spirit is Red. Ruby red? Interesting don’t you think?)
© Janine C. Hagan, 2018.