Wisdom Is?

The concept of wisdom is perplexing. It is disembodied, appears from out-of-the-blue, zaps, then leaves. No one knows where it goes; it just goes. No one knows how to bring it back, where it lives, or what it looks like. Wisdom is the most abstract of abstract.

It is commonly accepted that wisdom appears with age, but if true it is selective about those with whom it hangs and the selection criteria should be published. It is possible that as youth departs our bodies and our parts become of less use that we are magically compensated with the gift of wisdom. That is, assuming that wisdom is a gift.

Common sense, which surely must be a form of wisdom, would say wisdom is needed in advance so that we can make sound choices. Great, but it defies logic to figure out how to get wisdom before we need it. It seems that life would only be fair if we all began on equally wise footing the same as everyone else. Eventually we figure out life isn't necessarily fair but who knew in the beginning?

As non-aliens to this planet we should circulate a petition and gather names to protest our lack of wisdom. It would be easy to elicit signatures from across the globe. Once gathered, it could require several eighteen wheelers to deliver the executed document. It could be done, though. It could.

The petition creator would by necessity be the Wisdomless Leader seeking wisdom fairness. It is the Wisdomless Leader who must give driving directions to the truck drivers so each may make a perfect delivery. However, if the direction giver is wisdomless it begs the question of where to deliver the petition.

Wisdom may be innate, learned, genetically inherited or all of the above but until we find access to wisdom's domicile, anyone's guess is as good as the next. If acquiring wisdom is a life long process, it only makes sense that we should be permitted a life extension so we can try out our new wise stuff.

It might go something like this. "Hello, this is Wisdom Extender. How can I help you?" "Oh, hi, I'm Jill. I hooked up with Wisdomless Leader. I don't think he made me much wiser, but I did get wiser later. I signed that darned petition, but I don't think it ever got delivered. In spite of that I'm just suddenly full of wisdom." "Okay, I understand but where did you get your wisdom, Jill?" "I'm not completely sure but I think I was born with some and my folks had a lot of clues about life and for sure some came through divine intervention. Anyway, I'm just bursting with wisdom now and I want a chance to razzle dazzle my friends. How 'bout it? Can I have a 20-year life extension?" "Jill, I have measured the quantity of your wisdom, as well as the quality, and find that you should enlighten others with your knowledge. Your requested life extension is granted."

"Hello? Wisdom Extender, here." "Ah, yeah, sir? I'd like to know about maybe getting more time here on earth. I was a little late getting wisdom. I chased some guy around named Wisdomless Leader for a long time, but it never got me anywhere. What's my chances of checking out late?" Wisdom Extender replies, "What's your name?" Nervously, Bob thinking he has shown little wisdom by not giving Extender his name, mumbles, "Oh, yeah, uh, my name is Bob; Bob Green." Extender falls silent, then says, "Green, Green, Green. Ah, yes here you are. I'm sorry Bob, but your wisdom account is overdrawn. Unfortunately an extension cannot be granted unless there is a positive level of wisdom in your account. See what you can do and call me back in a year or two."


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