One summer, three friends and I strapped on our backpacks to hike the irrigation trail up the side of a canyon wall. This one canyon is a popular hiking spot because of its proximity to the Foresthill Bridge, the fourth highest bridge in the United States.
Halfway up the mountain, nausea hit. Due to the intermingling of 90-degree heat and a limited water supply, I felt instant regret over suggesting this vertical trail that wasn’t even meant for hiking. (It’s an irrigation trail, after all.) Wisdom sure wasn’t the one leading the charge in this decision; it was my own ego and the myth of invincibility. After we almost passed out from dehydration, two of my friends had to shoulder my body weight and help carry me the rest of the way.
Scripture says that “a person’s wisdom brightens his face” (Ecclesiastes 8:1). At the time when Ecclesiastes was written, wisdom was attributed as coming from a divine source. A bright face was considered physical evidence of wisdom in the wise person’s life, just as Moses’s face shone with radiance after spending time with the Lord (Exodus 34:34–35).
Our faces today may not emit a visible shining substance when we make good decisions or spend quality time with the Lord. But wisdom lingers with us the way campfire smoke stays on your clothes after hours roasting the perfect marshmallows. It favorably directs our steps and will be evident in our lives when we exercise it. Since our thoughts and actions affect those we are in community with, when we use wisdom in decision-making, we can also bring life to our collective environments. In doing so, perhaps our sphere of the world can better operate by kingdom values, such as justice, mercy, and love.
Proverbs offers the encouragement that “remembrance of the righteous is a blessing” (Proverbs 10:7). Those who live from a place of wisdom—whose faces are “brightened” by the Spirit of the Living God—are a blessing. It’s not that the wise avoid folly altogether. They just learn from their mistakes. As Jesus-followers, if our aim is to pursue abundant life, our lives will be marked by years that smell like wisdom.
In the end, climbing a mountain on a 90-degree day probably wasn’t wise. While our faces may have glistened, it wasn’t from nearing the Mount of Transfiguration, but from perspiring pearls of sweat that mocked our foolish decision. You’d better believe we learned from that mistake and will only plan future hikes up paths that are intended for human recreation.
LEHUA K – THANK YOU! Have a BLESSED day!
Wow happy first day of June SRT sisters! Crazy how time is flying. Praying for you all! Prayers appreciated for my sister and I. We had the discussion on faith on Saturday and it was good…She says she believes that Jesus is the Son of God/died/resurrected, but she says she doesn’t know for sure what happens after we die. She also is not living out her faith, and supports abortion and homosexuality (I believe we should love those people but that in God’s word he tells us how to respond to these issues). She also asked the question what about unreached people who have never heard of God, which I am looking more into…hard stuff. Praying that the Holy Spirit would soften her and her husband’s hearts.
Amen…I am praying, God is merciful. The questions that she is asking is allowing you to dig deeper into your faith and will open you up to things you may not have put much thought into before. May God bless you at this time and increase your faith as you ‘bring life to your environment.’
Thank you ladies for your prayers. I just woke up (I’m in Hawai’i) and set aside an hour and a half for my morning routine, and I feel very rested and at peace now. Putting my armor on before I head out.
Ceegee, praying for your son as he heads back to work today. Mari V, also praying for you and your son. Maura, praying for you and your family. God is good, He’s got us. Blessings sisters.
MAURA – Agreeing in prayer and praises for your daughter’s recovery and your upcoming visit, prayers for your granddaughter’s hearts and that they truly know God and His goodness and faithfulness.
CHURCHMOUSE – praising God with you for the answered prayers for Julia and the victory rainbow! Continued prayers for healing.
Love how it says wisdom brightens ones face. So blessed by the verse that also says “in Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” If Jesus is in us, we should be radiating Him to all, His perfume should be spreading to all around us. Though we are weak, God uses even our weaknesses, our difficulties, for HIS power and glory. Praise God! He takes the things the world considers foolish and uses them for His power and glory! Even as I see this world growing darker, He becomes sweeter to me. His power works in weak people. As Paul says HE boasts in his weaknesses — it is there Christ will shine forth ♥️
MARI V- Prayers for safety as you help clean up the mess and prayers for your son in the days ahead.
LEHUA K – GODS GLOW! (not flow, lol)
LEHUA K, Praying that God covers you with His protection and guides you through each step of your first days back to work. Our son is starting back today after 2 months off and he is quite anxious!There are a number of changes to deal with also. Praying others will see God’s flow radiating from your face!