The Little Things

Do you know what it means to "Bic" someone? That's a Gen X slang term for stealing someone's lighter. It used to happen frequently when a group of friends got together to smoke weed.  The joint goes out, you borrow someone's lighter to relight it, the conversation goes on with you being fully engaged, the owner of the lighter gets distracted, eventually you forget about it, stick it in your pocket and walk away. 

There are a couple of my friends who became known for this. One guy even had a collection of stolen lighters that he bragged about. He kept them in a little box that he would show you when you went to his house.  It wasn't that he was trying to do anything wrong, it was just because he was stupid.  Eventually he got a reputation for it, so whenever somebody was missing a lighter, they would go right to him.

Pens are another common item that gets stolen frequently without people even realizing it.  I'm reminded of the pens that are attached to the little chains, that are stuck to the counter in the bank or post office.  

So, why would I even bring up something like this on a blog about wisdom?  Because it's an example of the little things that real humans do that irritate each other. It's one of the little mistakes that some people make, often without even realizing it, but at the expense of another. It's taking away a little thing from somebody, that would result in nothing more than a minor inconvenience. 

It's still wrong though, isn't it? Eventually you'll move on and forget about it, the person may never even realize what happened to their lighter or pen, it will hardly have any impact on their lives, but it's still wrong.

The thing about these little things is that they add up over time.  A lot of little things in a relationship, for example, can lead to big problems eventually causing her to get sick of your shit and throw you right out on your butt. It also gives her a lot to use against you in the future, because she will remember and throw it in your face every chance she gets. 

Also, something that seems little to you, may be pretty big to somebody else. You never know.

The good thing about the little things is the good little things that you do in the world are multiplied in the same way.  Think about it.  

Do you have integrity?

Are you true to yourself?

That's a hard question because as humans, it's natural for us to want to fit in. In order to fit in, we may have to deny some aspect of ourselves, our likes, our personality, or our beliefs, that for whatever reason, may be considered stupid or offensive to the people who we are trying to fit in with.  Especially if they are different in whatever way.  The pressure to conform is especially intense when those around us markedly differ in ideology, lifestyle, or values.

In other words, we tend to become who or what we spend our time with. We become one of the guys when we are with the guys. We become a holy roller when we are in church. We become something entirely different when we are at work. Sometimes, it may even require us to go against our beliefs because we are afraid of what the others in that group may think if we come out as who we truly are.

Integrity means staying true to yourself, no matter what kind of situation you are in. It requires me to acknowledge my identity as a Catholic in all situations and be mindful of how I present myself to others. It doesn't mean I have to preach or defend my faith to people who are babbling on and on about nonsense just to keep the attention on them, just that I can't deny it just to impress some idiot who thinks they know the way. I have to stay on my own path. I have to stay on the path that God put me on.  Occasionally I will stray, but if I stay true to myself, it will be easier to get back on.

Honestly who gives a hoot what others think? That's all vanity. It's not going to matter when the bills come due. If they can't accept you for who you really are, then simply move on. If you live an authentic life with God and love as the guiding light, others will be drawn to that.  

Life will go on regardless.  

 

About Me

I am an embodied spirit who is stuck in the physical world. I assume God has his reasons for this, but I don't yet fully understand. I'm sure most of us don't, but here we are.

What I do know, is that he put me on a life path that includes various obstacles and temptations that I have to navigate my way around while giving me an attitude that doesn’t help me very much. I assume this is normal; but it sucks.  

Therefore, I am trying to find a different way of going about it. I am seeking his wisdom. I am spending time in prayer. I hope it's all for the best.

A Test to See if You Are Wise

In order to be a Wise Man, you have to be able to look at yourself as a fallen person and examine your own conscience.  Ask yourself different questions such as....

• What good have I done?
• What have I done that is good for others? 
• Am I able to be loving toward those who are close to me?
• Am I able to recognize the beauty in another person?
• Have I done anything to help the less fortunate?
• Can I be empathetic?
• Am I a light to others?
• Do I practice kindness regularly?
• Am I able to love?
• Love requires willing the good of another, have I done that?
• What have I sacrificed to ensure the good of another?
• Can I stay true to those closest to me?
• Do I listen actively or do I just wait for my turn to speak?
• Am I patient with those closest to me?
• Do I hold grudges or am I able to forgive?
• How have I hurt them and what have I done to make it right?
• What harm have I caused?  
• What have I done that is hurtful towards others?  
• Am I critical or judgmental of others, while being no better?
• What do I do for benefit of myself at the expense of others? 
• Am I a giver or a taker?
• Do I often find myself getting into trouble?
• What expectations do I have of others, and am I willing to give at least that much towards my loved ones?
• How am I using the gift of life?
• How much time have I wasted on meaninglessness when I could have done something good?  
• Am I able to see and respect the beauty in the world?
• What do I focus my energy on?
• How am I making the world a better place than I found it?
• Am I humble?
• Do I brag about my accomplishments?
• Do I get myself into trouble in order to make myself look better than I actually am?  
• Do I worry too much about what other people think of me?
• How do I handle criticism?
• How do I handle disappointment?
• Can I admit when I'm wrong?
• How do I deal with failure?
• What have I learned from my mistakes?
• How do I manage my emotions?
• Am I able to show gratitude?
• Am I personally responsible?
• Do I take responsibility for my actions?
• Do I deny pleasure in order to meet my responsibilities?
• Do I contribute to my community?
• Am I trustworthy?
• Am I nurturing my spiritual growth?
• Do I pray?
• Do I study scripture?
• Do you fear God?

How did you do?

There are probably thousands of questions you should be asking yourself, but this is at least a start.

Taking it to a whole new level

Back in the spring 🌱 of 2021, I had gone to confession and was given the Rosary as a penance. I wasn't all that familiar with it, I waited until that evening so I could pray along with The Family Rosary Across America which is on Relevant Radio at 8 PM Eastern Time, which I had recently discovered. I listened to it while I was at work.

That must have really pissed off my devil 👿 because the next day, I fell off my electric bike and broke my wrist.  It was like, during a moment where I wasn't paying attention, he kicked the back wheel right out from under me, and down I went. I was laid up for about 10 weeks. It totally sucked.

That's how the devil works. If you try to turn to God, he will be right there doing whatever he can to turn you away. He will find a way to distract you. He will find a way to hurt you. He will point out your faults. He will try to get you to focus on the things that aren't very important. He will whisper things in your ear that will remind you why you should be angry. I'm sure that he thought he had me for a moment. 

I was in pain. It was all I could do to get through my day. I couldn't work, so I had a lot of time on my hands. I didn't have the money coming in. I had to have surgery. I had a big bulky cast that went all the way up to my armpit. I was raising a young child on my own. She was a handful. She was still a little too young to help me, although she did what she could. It was a real struggle. I started going to bed around 10:00 p.m. completely exhausted. So, I started praying the rosary every night.

I really began to look forward to that time, trying to pray. At first it was an escape from a difficult situation. It brought me to a place of peace, if only for a moment.  It was a way to connect with God. I learned to look forward to that time.  

Once I felt better I started to do it in the morning. Now, I start everyday by praying my rosary.  It has become a part of my regular morning 🌄 routine.  It has been for a couple of years.  It's often a struggle to get through it.  Especially if I'm anticipating something, good or bad, it doesn't matter.  Especially if I have something major going on.  My mind will wander, and saying the words become a little mundane.  

There is one thing that I have discovered that the rosary is really good for, that is helping me to deal with a crisis.  It's amazing how things just fall into place when God gives you the grace to deal with it.  It's amazing how simple a solution to a problem can be when you turn to him.

Now, I'm going on 4 years into it. I managed to get through it on most days.  Some days it's easier than others. Some days it's really difficult to stay focused, but even a bad prayer is better than no prayer at all. I simply offer my distractions to God, because that's how I take my worries to him. Most days I'll do it on my own. 

From Curiosity to Critique: My Experience with a New Faith

Please don't tell my friend I wrote this. 

I have been exposed to a different religion.  This happened through a series of videos that I have been watching that a friend turned me on too. The video series is called, "The Confidence in Jesus Seminar". This seminar took place a couple years ago in Oxford Maine, at a 7th-Day Adventist Church, over 21 nights I believe, and it is on YouTube.  

Kudos to the people who made it through the entire thing.  I watched nine of them and decided that I had seen enough.  There was a lot of repetitiveness, and a lot of interpretation that I found interesting but simply don't agree with.  

It was like Bible ADHD the way he bounced around from verse to verse coming to all of these conclusions. They were mostly based on single passages that are taken out of context, and used to interpret the end time prophecies, which these people seem to be a little too fixated on.  

From there, I went on and did a little bit of research and learned what I needed to know. 

I don't have much nice to say honestly. I mean, I'm sure these are all good people. We're all looking for meaning in a chaotic and sinful world, and apparently these people find it there.  We're all looking for our connection to God. And if this church brings people closer to Jesus and ultimately to Heaven, then all the power to them.

One warning that he gives repeatedly in these videos is this: "Don't be deceived. Don't be deceived. Don't be deceived!" It was a way of claiming that every other religion missed the mark.

Another phrase that he uses repeatedly is this, "95% of Christians believe this, but that's not what the Bible says...". And of course, he's going to tell you what it does say because he has the real answer.  

Okay!

I decided that I had heard enough after he claimed that the Catholic Church was the beast that was prophesized in the book of Revelations, and that the Pope is the Antichrist. He went on to criticize the sacrament of reconciliation, which the Catholics often refer to as confession, which was also the path that started me down my own personal spiritual journey into the church.  And he claimed that the Catholics changed the ten commandments in the Bible.  Then he says that they're not bashing the Catholics. 

As for the changing of the wording in regard to the 10 Commandments, it is true that there are variations in wording between the Catholic Bible and the King James version, but it wasn't the Catholics who changed anything.  It was the fact that the King James version of the bible which these people use comes from a different source, a different set of ancient Greek texts, and was put together by people who were involved in the Protestant Reformation during the 16th Century AD.  The Catholic Bible was translated by Saint Jerome in the 4th Century AD.  

There is one other thing that really concerned me. And that is he says is something like, we need to know what's in the heart of Satan, so that we can know how to resist him, and I guarantee you he has no clue what he is talking about.

I have seen enough.  Honestly.  They're very anti-Catholic.  It is clear that whoever founded this Seventh-Day Adventist religion back around 1863, lacks any realistic understanding of Catholics or the Catholic Church.  That's common among the Protestant religions, but these people take it to a whole new level. It's like they hate what they believe about the Catholic Church, not what they know about the Catholic Church, which isn't much because if they did have an understanding of the Catholic Church, what it teaches, and what it offers, they'd be much more likely to be drawn toward Catholicism than this.

I'm not going to claim that the Catholic Church is perfect in any way.  It's run by imperfect humans.  The church has had her controversies, and even priests need to go to confession every now and then because we all fall short.  But the teachings of the Catholic Church are much more hopeful and joyful, I guess you can say.  

When done right, meaning that you make a heartfelt confession, the sacrament of reconciliation is powerful way to help yourself heal by experiencing Jesus. It helped me to deal with mistakes I've made, the regrets I have, and the sins that I have committed in my life.  As I stated earlier, this was the beginning of my spiritual journey into the church. Thank God I had it available to me when I did. That's all I can say.  Without it, who knows where I would be now?

So, if this works for you, than have at it.  I will pray for you.

The saddest thing of all is that if you tried to explain anything to any of these people, they will probably have canned responses to anything that you say.  

  

Happiness is a Choice

I have been playing around with Artificial Intelligence, which I believe is going to lead to a major technological evolutionary step.  

On the PC, Microsoft's Copilot AI opens with suggestions.  This was one I saw today.  I asked it to add the 5th because I believe that the spiritual is just as real as this.  This was the response.  

Philosophers often argue that happiness is a choice based on several key principles:

1. Cognitive Control: Many philosophers, like the Stoics, believe that while we can't control external events, we can control our reactions to them. By choosing to respond positively or with acceptance, we can maintain our happiness regardless of circumstances.
2. Perception and Attitude: Existentialists like Sartre suggest that happiness comes from our perception and attitude towards life. By choosing to find meaning and positivity in our experiences, we can create our own happiness.
3. Practical Wisdom: Aristotle, in his concept of eudaimonia (flourishing), posits that happiness results from living a life of virtue and practical wisdom. This involves making conscious choices that align with our values and lead to long-term well-being.
4. Mindfulness and Presence: Philosophers from Eastern traditions, such as those who follow Zen Buddhism, emphasize mindfulness and being present in the moment. By choosing to focus on the here and now and not getting lost in worries or regrets, we can find happiness in the present.
5. Spiritual Fulfillment: Many philosophers and spiritual leaders believe that happiness is closely linked to our spiritual well-being. This perspective suggests that connecting with a higher power or purpose can bring profound peace and joy. By choosing to nurture our spiritual beliefs and practices, we can find a deep sense of contentment and fulfillment that transcends material circumstances.

Together, these five principles underscore the idea that happiness often stems from our internal choices and mindset. Do any of these resonate with you, or is there another perspective on happiness that you find compelling?

There is some really good advice there, and it shows that wisdom can be found anywhere if you're willing to seek it out.

Why is the Catholic Bible and the Protestant (King Jame's) Bible different?

When the topic of religion came up during a recent conversation with a dear friend who belongs to a Protestant denomination, a claim was made that the Catholics changed the wording in the Bible.  

The example given was in regard to the 10 Commandments, which I learned is worded differently between the texts of the Standard Catholic Bible and the King James Bible that is used by Protestants.  

Because I am no biblical scholar, I wasn't sure how to answer that, but I am able to do the research, and when I got home, I did.  Here is what I learned.  

Origins

The main difference between the Protestant i.e. King James Bible and the Catholic Bible is in the origin.  

• The Catholic Bible that we have today, was translated into Latin by St. Jerome in the 4th Century CE.  This is the Standard Catholic Bible that has been used for centuries, and that has been translated into the different languages that the Bible is available in today from that original source.  
• The King James Bible on the other hand, was compiled during the 16th Century as part of the Protestant Reformation.  The KJB was translated by a team of scholars.  The project was overseen by Archbishop Richard Bancroft.

Original Source Material

• King James Bible: The New Testament of the KJV was translated from the Textus Receptus (Received Text), a series of Greek texts compiled by Erasmus and later revised by others like Stephanus and Beza. The Old Testament was translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text, and the Apocrypha from the Greek Septuagint.  This text was compiled in the 16th century and is based on a limited number of late Byzantine manuscripts. While it's highly respected, especially in Protestant traditions, it may not include the oldest or most varied manuscript evidence.
• Catholic Bible: The New Testament of the Catholic Bible primarily uses the Vulgate, which was translated by St. Jerome from the Hebrew and Greek texts, including the Septuagint. The Old Testament also uses the Septuagint for some books. The Septuagint is a Greek translation of Hebrew scriptures dating back to around the 3rd century BCE, making it one of the oldest translations. The Vulgate, translated by St. Jerome in the 4th century CE, uses these older sources and reflects a longer tradition of textual transmission, particularly within the Catholic Church.

St. Jerome's work made the scriptures more accessible to the common people of his time, as Latin was the prevalent language of the Roman Empire.

Notable Differences

There are a number of books and chapters that are included in the Catholic Bible that are not in the King James Bible.  These additional books are known as the Deuterocanonical books. Here they are:

1. Tobit

2. Judith

3. 1 Maccabees

4. 2 Maccabees

5. Wisdom (of Solomon)

6. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

7. Baruch

8. Additions to Esther (parts of Esther that are not in the Hebrew Bible)

9. Additions to Daniel:

   • Prayer of Azariah

   • Song of the Three Holy Children

   • Susanna

   • Bel and the Dragon

These books are included in the Catholic Old Testament but are not part of the Protestant Old Testament, including the KJV.

The Catholic Bible includes the Deuterocanonical books for several reasons:

1. Historical Tradition: These books were widely used by early Christians and were part of the Greek Septuagint, a key scriptural source in the early Church. The Septuagint included these books, and early Church Fathers often referenced them in their writings.

2. Council Decisions: The Deuterocanonical books were affirmed as canonical at several important Church councils. The Council of Rome (382 AD), Councils of Hippo (393 AD), and Carthage (397 and 419 AD) all endorsed the inclusion of these books. This decision was further solidified at the Council of Trent (1546 AD) in response to the Protestant Reformation.

3. Theological Consistency: The Catholic Church views these books as inspired and consistent with the rest of Scripture. They provide valuable teachings, historical accounts, and insights into Jewish life and faith during the intertestamental period (between the Old and New Testaments).

4. Liturgy and Devotion: These books have been used in Catholic liturgy and devotion for centuries. They are included in the readings at Mass and other liturgical celebrations.

In summary, the Catholic Church considers the Deuterocanonical books an integral part of its scriptural and theological tradition, reaffirming their importance through historical councils and consistent use in liturgy and teaching.

Another difference is in the wording or presentation.  The specific example that I was presented with during the conversation was in regard to the 10 Commandments.

The Ten Commandments are essentially the same across different Christian traditions, but the wording and grouping can differ slightly between the Catholic and Protestant (King James Bible) versions. Here's a comparison to highlight these differences:

Catholic Ten Commandments:

1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before me.

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

4. Honor your father and your mother.

5. You shall not kill.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

Protestant (King James Bible) Ten Commandments:

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

5. Honour thy father and thy mother.

6. Thou shalt not kill.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8. Thou shalt not steal.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

10. Thou shalt not covet.

Key Differences:

• The Catholic version combines the prohibition of other gods and the creation of idols into the first commandment.

• The Catholic version separates the commandment on coveting into two: one for coveting a neighbor's wife and another for coveting a neighbor's goods.

• The Protestant version explicitly separates the commandment against making graven images.

These differences reflect variations in theological emphasis and historical tradition. Despite these variations, the core moral teachings remain consistent across both versions.

So yes, the Catholic Bible and the King James Version have a number of key differences and variations in wording.  The original claim that the Catholic's changed the bible is unfair and incorrect.  I hope I have been able to explain why that is and how it came to be.  

Sources

The God Who Speaks

King James Bible Translators

English-Bible-4-Understanding-the-Greek-Text-Behind-the-King-James-Version.pdf

The Texts | The King James Bible: A Translation for the Ages | Cedarville University

Septuagint Version | Catholic Answers Encyclopedia

How St. Jerome Translated the Bible for the Masses

Looking for Answers in the Darkness

I met a woman who is lost.  

By lost, I mean she has no direction. She's at a point in her life where she's older, unmarried, living far away from any friends or family that she's ever had, and has no idea why she came here to Maine.

I'm not trying to judge her or anything, but it's obvious that she's reaching out into the darkness for answers that would not really do her any good. She said that she called a psychic.  She said that she has to know if she made the right decision by coming out here. 

When she told me that, I said: "It doesn't matter if you made the right decision, but rather where you go from here." 

What's done is done. It's as simple as that. You can't go back in time, you can't change something that you did in the past. All you can do is try to make the best of what's in front of you. Try to move on. Try to do the right thing from here on out.  Try to make amends, if that's what it takes.  And pray that you do it right the next time.

Going to a psychic is reaching out into the darkness for answers that you don't really need, and possibly aren't meant to have.  Not to mention that the commercial psychics are mostly con artists who are skilled at taking things that you say and exploiting them so that you believe.  It's called psychological manipulation.  If you want to argue this point, then it simply means you're dumb enough to believe it.

It's not that I don't believe that people aren't given gifts like that, but if they really were given a gift like that, then it would be more of a curse than a blessing.  It would be something that they wouldn't really want if they really had it.  And it would be scary, especially if you know what's really out there in the spiritual realm.  

I do know what's out there because I played around with it myself.   I explored various things like witchcraft, sorcery, conjuration back when I was young and stupid.  I once cast a spell, and it came true in the strangest way.  But it never got me anywhere. It only made things worse, because there is a price for all of that. 

I have personally experienced glimpses. I have experienced them from both sides. I've reached into the darkness, in my past. I played around with magic. 

Not only that but real premonitions, revelations whatever you want to call them are not something that they can simply call for the minute they get you on the phone.  But rather, it's something that comes to you. It's not something that you can control, but rather something that just happens.  It's not something that you can learn to do, or develop your skills, but rather you're given glimpses.  Maybe you hear something.  Maybe you get a private revelation.

Fortunately for me, I was shown the light, meaning the light of Christ, the light of God.  Occasionally he gives me some of those glimpses. They are quite powerful.  The difference is it brings ne closer to him.  When God gives you a glimpse like that, you increase in faith, hope, and love.  You feel like you have found your way.  

Then no matter what happens, he's there with you. It's as simple as that.

Forgotten

We will ultimately be forgotten by future generations.  Everything we have or do will be forgotten.  Even if we leave something behind that lasts forever, who we are, what we looked like, our struggles, joys, feelings, life, will ultimately be gone and forgotten.

I know I'm generalizing and have no educated expertise other than my own thoughts after reading the wisdom books of the Holy Bible.  

It's crazy to think that everything we do, everything we have accumulated in our lives will eventually amount to nothing as much of it will be gone, recycled, or passed onto someone else who didn't work for it.  I think this happens a lot more today.  We live in a throw away culture.  We live in a world that consumes goods at an astronomical rate.  

Then we use it up and move on to the next thing.  

What interesting creatures we are, eh?

Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.

—St. Padre Pio

How to Be a Wise Man in 12 Easy Steps

 This article was inspired by my personal reading of the Book of Proverbs and is based on advice taken from the first nine chapters of the book.  This part of the book is written as if from a father to a son and it gives a good foundation on how we should live our lives how to act in our relationships with others.

The Book of Proverbs is God's instructions to us on how to live wisely, or rather how the wise man should develop his character, live his life and conduct his affairs.  It also talks a lot about what temptations we should avoid so that we can keep our slates clean, walk the straight and narrow path, and live a peaceful and joyful life in the light of God.  

Wisdom is the art of living wisely.  It is a Grace given to us by God.  I have picked out twelve of my favorite little snippets of wisdom to help you along your journey down the straight and narrow path.  So, if you want to live the good life of a wise man, then read on.

Step #1: Listen to Your Parents 

Your parents are your first teachers.  They want what’s best for you.  They try to teach you how to live, how to prosper, and how to survive in the crazy world.  They support you through your education while growing up, and make sure you are fed and healthy.

We may not like it at the time, but when they discipline us as children it really is for our own good.  It is a parents job to teach their kids how to behave.  If your parents are loving, honest and faithful to each other, then they are good teachers to model your life after.

Wisdom is something you learn from those who came before you.  And it starts with your mom and dad.

Step #2: Love God and Keep His Commandments

The wise man stays faithful to God and keeps his commandments.  If he takes this to heart, he will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.  It will keep your path straight and keep you out of trouble.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.  If you don’t keep God’s commandments you will live in darkness, trying to hide from his light, trying to hide your deeds.  You will lie to cover your tracks.  

If you do keep his commandments, you can live in the light with nothing to hide.

Step #3: Avoid Doing Anything Evil

If somebody tries to get you to get involved with some evil act, some crazy scheme such as robbery, beating somebody, running some scam, taking advantage of somebody or something along that line, don’t do it.  While you might enjoy a few short term rewards and riches, eventually it will catch up to you.  You will have to lie and hide from the light because of your actions.  If you are caught, you will be punished.

Turn away from evil.  Avoid evil.  Fear the Lord and hate evil and you will be rewarded.  You will be able to live in peace and prosperity without fear of retribution or justice.

Eventually evil deeds will catch up to you.  The long arm of the law will eventually find you.  When you get caught you will regret your actions.  You will say, I should have known better.  You will cry for mercy but it’s too late.  Now you will pay the price.



Step #4: Be Honest

Be honest in all of your dealings.  Act fairly in all of your proceedings with others.  Speak the truth always.  Don’t falsely accuse anybody of something they didn’t do.  Don’t cheat anybody.  Don’t lie.  Don’t try to deceive.  Don’t tip the scales to your advantage so to speak. 

Staying honest is staying true to yourself and true to God.  Others won’t be able to accuse you of anything.  You won’t have anything to hide. 

Step #5: Exercise Good Judgement

In order to exercise good judgement, you will need to understand everything that you get yourself into, everything you do or every decision you make.  If you do this, you will be able to make good decisions that keep you honest and fair, while not getting involved in anything evil.  This will be based on knowledge and understanding.  

Maintain discretion always.  Don't just jump on a "great opportunity," Gain understanding and you will know the right thing to do in every situation.  Be shrewd, judging people and situations carefully.

Step #6: Learn from Your Mistakes

Nobody is perfect.  If you make a mistake, own it, do what you can to fix it, and learn from it.  If you learn from your mistakes, you will be wiser.  You will be less likely to make them again in the future.

A mistake is God’s way of making us stop and reconsider what we are doing or what we have done.  Don’t reject God’s discipline, that is designed to keep you on the straight and narrow path.  You will stray every now and then, but you will eventually learn from your mistakes as well.  Then you can move forward.



Step #7: Be Faithful to Your Own

Don’t cheat on your spouse or have an affair with the spouse of another.  Love and stay true to your own.  You will be happier.  You will have nothing to hide. 

Staying faithful and true to your own will keep you blameless.  Cheating with another woman or the wife of another will get you into trouble.  You will try to hide it and keep it in the dark.  She may be sweet, and it could be fun for a moment, but she will lead you straight to hell.

A good woman is a blessing.  A forbidden woman will be the downfall of man.

Step #8: Be Generous and Grateful

Honor God with your first fruits and more will be given to you.  If your neighbor is in need and you can help them, do so.  Give and to you will be given.

Not only will whatever you give come back to you, it will do so in plenty.  So be grateful for all of your blessings then more will come your way.  

 

Step #9: Fulfill Your Obligations

Keep your promises, then you won’t disappoint others.  Pay your bills and your lights won’t get shut off.  If you sign a contract, fulfil your obligation, then you will gain a good reputation for doing business.  

Don’t make promises you can’t keep.  Don’t sign contracts you can’t fulfil.  Don't run up credit card bills that you can't pay.  And if you do, then make sure you take care of it.

 

Step #10: Prepare for the future

Store up your provisions for the future.  Make sure you have enough to get through the winter.  Make sure you have enough saved away so that you can weather the storms of life, make it through the tough times, or handle an emergency.

Occasionally a crisis will happen in your life.  You never know when it will happen.  So do your best to prepare for it.

 

Step #11: Work Hard

Don’t’ be lazy.  If you sit around sleeping during the time of the harvest, you won’t be able to make it through the winter.  If you blow off mowing your lawn, it will be that much harder to do when the grass is that much taller.  You will lose out on opportunities.

If you work hard, do your best, and take care of your business, you will have an easier life.

 

Step #12: Learn to recognize the good things in life

We spend too much time focusing on the negative.  This causes stress, anger and sadness.  If we can learn to see the beauty of it all, then we can live in peace and tranquility.

Take the time to smell the roses.  Admire and appreciate a great piece of art.  Open your heart to all that is good, and you will see that life can be full of joy.

 

Conclusion

Being a wise man is not about knowing everything.  It is about living wisely in a crazy world that has been tainted by evil, greed, hatred and jealousy.  It is about learning to see the beauty in the the world and experiencing the love of God and others. 

The wise man is able to live in the light of his deeds.  His life is full of peace and joy.  He makes friends rather than enemies, and he always understands what he gets himself into.  He doesn't get involved in the day-to-day affairs of the foolish.  He doesn't run his mouth or condemn others or talk about that which he has no understanding of.  He avoids their wicked schemes and stays true to his own.  He has nothing to hide and can therefore live in peace and security.

Being a wise man, gaining wisdom is something that you have to work for.