During my teen years, I struggled with the loneliness and confusion that can be typical of that age. In those darker moments I would often escape into my imagination. It was there that the combination of my natural creativity and an interest in science fiction resulted in the development of several interesting characters. One, in particular was a female warrior or super hero. She stood tall and statuesque with flowing auburn hair, piercing eyes and an aura of authority. However, there was also a gentleness about her, and compassion in her smile that revealed the nurturing side of her character. Whenever I would day dream about this unique woman and her adventures, I always felt a certain kinship. There was just always something very familiar and pure about her. But as I grew older, my warrior woman was forgotten along with the various other trappings of young adulthood.
Fast forward to the present day when I was recently doing a simple read through of the Psalms and Proverbs. As I began Proverbs 8, something began to burn in my memory.
Verse 4… “To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.” Vs. 6 “ Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.” Vs. 14 “Counsel and sound judgement are mine; I have understanding and power.” Vs. 23 “I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.”
As the words penetrated my thoughts, I was delighted to finally make the connection! Wisdom is portrayed in Proverbs as “she”. She is a pillar of strength, a source of counsel and the ultimate example of what it is to strive for righteousness. She desires to teach those who will eagerly listen, but is stern in her cautions for all those who ignore her advice. The woman I had always envisioned with her ageless beauty and purity of character was exactly who had always been right there in Proverbs 8. “Wisdom” is my super hero!
The difference in this situation is significant though. Other super heroes have unattainable skills and abilities. No matter how hard I might try, I could never be like them or even hope to come close in all my human failure. But with Wisdom, it is different! Vs. 17 says, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” What? Is it really that simple?? Just look for it and ask? “She” continues in verses 34 and 35. “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.”
What a magnificent promise! Can you just imagine the vast blessings that await us just because we make the decision to seek wisdom? I remember as I was growing up hearing my parents always pray and ask for wisdom. Now I understand how crucially important it is to do that if we want to be able to clearly see the path we are to take. I need to ask for it, search for it and even embrace it within all aspects of my life. And I know that even when I stray a ways off the trail because I allow myself to be spiritually distracted, there will always come a point where I will look up and there in front of me will be my super hero/warrior woman. I can expect her to be stern but loving as she gently yet firmly reminds me to seek her help in staying on the right path. The Scripture says that wisdom was there before the dawn of creation, yet it is available to us all today just for the asking.
Proverbs 3:13 says, “Blessed is the man (or woman) who finds wisdom…” . Look for it; ask for it. For me she’s been there all along between the pages of my Bible and in the corners of my imagination. For you she may be in the musings of an elderly relative. Or perhaps in the innocent songs of a child. The bottom line is that when you need her and ask for her, she will be there. Isn’t that what a super hero does?
