REFLECTIONS

Watchin’ and Listenin’

“Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits.” So, maybe there is even more inside those quotes of Satchel Paige than came to our attention last week. Those homespun philosophies of his still have me sittin’ and thinkin’ about his life. His expressions are humorous; yet while sittin’ and thinkin’, I wonder how he discovered the subtle wisdom imbedded in them. I can’t help but wonder how he gained such understanding of life.

Given his life of poverty as a child, delinquency as an adolescent, and as a young man barnstorming about the country playing Negro League baseball, ole Satch had lots of life experiences to draw upon. So I wonder if those experiences provided storylines for those times he found himself sittin’ and thinkin’ trying to make sense out of life.

We all have life experiences that we fail to call upon to help us understand life. Most of the time we simply live them and move on with little awareness of the effect they have on how we will respond to the events tomorrow will bring. But “Seek first to understand, then to be understood,” as Stephen Covey wrote in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. And I think ole Satchel did just that when he was sittin’ and thinkin’. But I think he spent lots of time watchin’ and listenin’ too.

Through Solomon’s wisdom, God tells us that wisdom requires understanding.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) 

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:7)

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, (Proverbs 3:13)

Understanding is an essential ingredient of wisdom. It reaches beyond knowledge, facts, and figures. To gain understanding one must consider numerous factors including emotional responses, the influences of nature, lessons from personal experiences, and all the various combinations that influence human behavior. Without watchin’ and listenin’ the old pitcher wouldn’t have had enough information to gain understanding. But while sittin’ and thinkin’ about baseball and about life, I believe the old pitcher figured out.

And from his wisdom, Satchel Paige left us some beautiful lessons.

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org.

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