“Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.”
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-Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen.
-Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen.
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There are some really relevant things to remember when considering advice.
There are some really relevant things to remember when considering advice.
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“All counselors praise the counsel they give, but some give counsel in their own interest. Be wary of a counselor, and learn first what is his interest, for he will take thought for himself.” –Sirach 37:7-8 NRSV.
“All counselors praise the counsel they give, but some give counsel in their own interest. Be wary of a counselor, and learn first what is his interest, for he will take thought for himself.” –Sirach 37:7-8 NRSV.
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Consulting with people who have the opposite attributes to that we wish to be advised upon is a folly. It would make no sense to listen to a coward before going to war, or to discuss the approach required concerning a large task with a person adept at laziness. Why also would we ask a miser about how to give generously? -- Or an aggressive person about kindness?
Consulting with people who have the opposite attributes to that we wish to be advised upon is a folly. It would make no sense to listen to a coward before going to war, or to discuss the approach required concerning a large task with a person adept at laziness. Why also would we ask a miser about how to give generously? -- Or an aggressive person about kindness?
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The person best placed to offer us advice is someone who is like-interested with us. This means they have our best interests at heart and will ‘go with us’ whether we fail or succeed.
The person best placed to offer us advice is someone who is like-interested with us. This means they have our best interests at heart and will ‘go with us’ whether we fail or succeed.
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This is also sound advice regarding who to listen to:
This is also sound advice regarding who to listen to:
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“And heed the counsel of your own heart, for no one is more faithful to you than it is. For our own mind sometimes keeps us better informed than seven sentinels sitting high on a watchtower. But above all pray to the Most High that he may direct your way in truth.” –Sirach 37:13-15 NRSV.
“And heed the counsel of your own heart, for no one is more faithful to you than it is. For our own mind sometimes keeps us better informed than seven sentinels sitting high on a watchtower. But above all pray to the Most High that he may direct your way in truth.” –Sirach 37:13-15 NRSV.
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Can we get much better than make the final decision to act based on the counsel of our own hearts? This is what is required in life -- for us all to make the decision for ourselves, based on whatever is before us. The heart informs the mind and vice versa. Thought and feeling consult each other and affirm to each other, truth, hopefully. That’s God’s resilient design for autonomous action toward survival and growth. Advice is good for decisions only. We need to decide, finally.
Can we get much better than make the final decision to act based on the counsel of our own hearts? This is what is required in life -- for us all to make the decision for ourselves, based on whatever is before us. The heart informs the mind and vice versa. Thought and feeling consult each other and affirm to each other, truth, hopefully. That’s God’s resilient design for autonomous action toward survival and growth. Advice is good for decisions only. We need to decide, finally.
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Prudence is the last charge. ‘Be careful whose advice you buy (or consider), but, be patient with those who supply it.’
Prudence is the last charge. ‘Be careful whose advice you buy (or consider), but, be patient with those who supply it.’
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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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