Rock, Paper, Scissors and the Way of Wisdom

Proper 15 - Cycle B

Solomon wants to be wise. He shows that he already has some level of wisdom when he acknowledges his need for wisdom, For who indeed can govern this great people? Truly, couldn't we say that to anyone who aspires to public office, Good luck with that!

But the pursuit of wisdom is what all human beings do, not just leaders. Every world religion, every philosophy, folk lore, most conversations over coffee ultimately are about how to live well, how to have a life that has meaning, now not to waste it. if we don't aim for wisdom, at least we want to know how--not to be foolish.

I have a story for you this morning. It's a Japanese contribution to the world's wisdom literature.

"There once was a stone cutter who lived alone. Though he was highly skilled, he was still poor. He lived in a tiny bamboo  hut, and his clothing was tattered.

You called me? Here I am

[Helen Keefe preached this sermon on January 17. The lessons for the day included the call of Samuel and the call of Philip and Nathanael. The occasion was the Annual Meeting of our congregation. It struck me. I wanted to share it.]

Well, here I am.

Here I am - in this place, at this time, through the grace of God.

Here I am, because God's voice calls me - through your voice.

Thanks be to God, here I am.

I have thought about that phrase for weeks now.

Here I am. We all say it:

You called? Here I am. You asked for volunteers? Here I am.

You're taking roll? Here I am.

Beyond the simple statement of fact, it is a declaration of presence and alertness. Here I am. Ready.

Then I thought what if I added a comma? Here, I AM. Here. In this place, in this time. I am. I exist. I can't be in the past or in the future. Just here, now. I am who I am, shaped by my life this far, honed by this time, this place, these people. I am who I am because I am, Here. We spend so much of our life trying to figure out who we are. Let's concentrate on the fact that we ARE.