The thing about a proverb is it may not be 100% true. But a witty proverb communicates truth for living. For example, an African proverb about owls says, the owl is the wisest of all the birds – the more it sees the less it says.
Applying a Proverb
That goes against the grain of blogging – well, against the grain of this blogger, anyway. The whole point of blogging after all, is a platform for sharing opinions nobody will pay to read, or write. However, in these crazy times, a true truth about most of today’s news and views is the less said the better .
Can you explain what you see or experience of this old world and all the suffering daily life brings — briefly, and without profanity?
Job’s friends tried, proving a modern proverb:
If you can’t explain something in a few words, try fewer. ~Robert Brault
Keeping one’s mouth shut would be wisdom according to Job. You see, Job was getting advice from friends who could see his affliction, but did not understand its origin, or its purpose. Nor did they do much for him. His friends should have been like the owl and had a lot less to say. ( Job 42:7-8)
The reason for Job’s suffering was simple and unfathomable– but Job saw God even in the midst of what he could not understand. (Job 42:1-6)
Almost twenty-five years ago, our pastor, Glenn Parkinson, offered a proverb from this chapter of Job that illuminates a next step through trouble.
The problems that God gives us change our blindness into sight.
Whoa: How are today’s problems helping me see things I never saw? Can I see God in what I do not understand . . . ?
The more I see of this world’s troubles, I see the owl is wise. On inexplicable disasters, or even personal heartbreak, say less and do more. And pray about something besides my own problems! ( James 4:3)
Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful. ~Author Unknown
An Artful Proverb
PS: Maybe I’ll expand on that African proverb: The owl is the wisest of all the birds – the more it sees the less it says. The less it says . . . the more it might hear.
What do you think, dear reader?
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