https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082822.cfm
I quote:
The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs,
and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise
end quote
Daniel Defoe's character, Robinson Crusoe cast away into solitude on a desert island learned from his daily observations that he was growing in wisdom day, by day simply by watching, and listening to the flow of life entering his experiences learning to build a shelter provided by his habitat's natural resources, including harvesting fresh fruit, and fish in plentiful supply. Robinson Crusoe learned to use his ears, eyes, and nose with a will to survive, and prosper from his isolation.
It has been my experience when observing people that I learned, and am learning more about my own need to change my behaviour, when witnessing to the actions of those who easily draw my attention to their conduct unbecoming. In other words our neighbours can become our best educators when we choose to listen too, and watch how they manage their daily challenges.
Today's readings readily remind us that our ego centric ways can damage, even destroy our sense of who we are in the company of those who are not impressed by enthusiastic displays of wealth, and cunning calculated to advertise our sense of superiority.
The experienced traveller learns from bitter experience walking the road of hard knocks that our today's perceived sense of self importance, may tomorrow be a memory of what was when our turn arrives to face our new reality minus the pedestal that had elevated our exaggerated self focus into the clouds.
“I learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition, and less upon the dark side, and to consider what I enjoyed, rather than what I wanted : and this gave me sometimes such secret comforts, that I cannot express them ; and which I take notice of here, to put those discontented people in mind of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them, because they see and covet something that he has not given them. All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.”
― Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
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