I was invited recently to participate in the 30 Seconds or Less project of presenting every book of the Bible for Lent. In thirty seconds.
That wasn’t at all intimidating! I was to try to distill the ancient wisdom of the book of Proverbs down to thirty seconds. Or less. Fortunately I was also given a chance to state what I thought the “Good News” of Proverbs was, also in thirty seconds.
Here are my attempts, with text and video. Enjoy!
We tend to know wisdom when we see or hear it.
From a grandmother.
An esteemed elder.
A good story.
In the book of Proverbs, wisdom is a feminine figure of divine discernment. She says:
The LORD created me at the beginning of His course,
As the first of his works of old.
Now sons and daughters, listen to me;
Happy are they who keep my ways.
Proverbs is an invitation, not to simple answers, but to seeking and listening to the way of wisdom. A way that’s as old as the earth.
- Where do you go when you’re looking for wisdom?
- In your opinion, what’s the difference between simple answers and listening to the way of wisdom?
What is the good news of a tree? Or a cool summer breeze?
What is the good news of the laugh of a child? Of the song the sparrow sings?
The good news of the book of Proverbs is that the creation itself is infused with wisdom.
If we take the time to be present with each other—with neighbor, friend, enemy, with the earth—we will hear wisdom’s call; we will connect with the deep understanding that God has set into the very fabric of being.
- What is the good news of a tree?
- How do you hear wisdom’s call? What does it sound like? What is she calling you to do?
// the complete #30SecondBible series
// CREDITS //
Written & spoken by Bryan Berghoef
Music by Podington Bear
Footage by VideoBlocks and John Deuel
Edited by Jim Kast-Keat
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A simple answer is incomplete, frail, shallow. Wisdom is deep like a well that never runs dry. I go to Nature; God; inside myself; memories of words of wise old people I knew as a child and classics such as The Bible. New works of Literature as well. The wisdom of a tree is that it is there and it is quiet and powerful with an inner strength. It also bends and sways in a storm, and when it finally does break and fall, it continues to nurture. I hear Wisdom call when I take time to listen. When silence surrounds me. There is no audible sound as we know it when Wisdom calls, it is simply a yearning, a longing to learn more. What she is calling me to do is listen and think, learn and live.