June 14

HUMILITY MONTH: DAY 14: “The only wisdom we can hope to acquire

Is the wisdom of humility: humility is endless.” ― T.S. Eliot

The more I know, the more I know that I know a great deal less than I thought. I continue to learn, and my learning takes me to the place where I know less every day.

Wisdom is applied information. All the education and knowledge in the world does not become wisdom until we apply it to the practical living of that information.

It is a social dynamic I hear a lot, that educated people are considered “smarter” than those with no education. Education is a tool of the ego. It does not, cannot, and never will replace intelligence or wisdom.

Intelligence is the ability to learn information. Wisdom is the acquired information put into practical usage.

There is a huge difference between a wise person and a smart person. In fact, I have a great deal of intelligence, a great deal of education, and only a modicum of wisdom.

Why? Because I know a lot, I am capable of learning a lot. But I have only been able to apply it to my life and circumstances a little bit (32 years). This does not give me equitable wisdom. But it does give me a sense of humility because my ego has been bashed for 32 years.

Every time I think I “know” stuff, I get bashed in the ego with what happens when I know but don’t apply that to my life.

There is so much wisdom in those who have walked the path I want to walk. This is not necessarily everyone I meet in the recovery rooms. In fact, there are only a small handful that I want to emulate, because the rest are on a path that does not appeal to me greatly.

I want less and less information and “stuff” every day. But I want more and more spiritual connection and wisdom every day too.

So, I get to gravitate toward that which I feel is most resonant within my heart. And that is the path where others walk in spirit and love. If it feeds my ego, it is not going to be along that path. I want to walk that path and discover the way of humility and wisdom.