Thursday, December 04, 2008

wisdom and joy


The word wisdom is a word you really don't hear very much about. Smart is one thing, wisdom another. Joy is a similar word. Something may make us feel happy, but we know that joy exists at another level.

I was talking with a friend this morning who had visited another friend in his home to find him high as a kite. He had successfully installed a new lighting system, and couldn't contain the pride he felt in his accomplishment. He had broken a barrier, transcended something to have it expressed as a physical accomplishment that could be shared and enjoyed by others.

Wisdom and joy defy containment and one facilitates the other. If we were to view life as a tapestry, wisdom would be the warp and joy its weft. I am curious, whether other readers see this same connection? Have you ever done something with your hands that led to feelings of joy, that you felt compelled to share? Are wisdom and joy inextricably linked? I suspect so.

The photo above is of the toy cars being made by the CSS students for distribution at the local food bank this holiday season. If you wanted to see joy in action, it was present in today's CSS wood shop.

2 comments:

  1. This is absolutely true. I have spent many years designing and building equipment in factories and development labs. Aside from striving for engineering excellence, I like my things to be asthetically pleasing - Characteristics I see in your work as well. When building something I often can not believe that I get paid to do what I love. The joy from this far exceeds any monetary reward.

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  2. Anonymous6:15 PM

    FO, good for you! For a lot of people, like me, working with my hands is a total change from my work as a teacher. It's what lets me focus on something creative rather than the school's politics and the students' problems.

    Mario

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