Lean Not On Your Own Understanding

This morning as I was taking a shower something strange happened. A Bible verse washed across my mind.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to on your own understating.”  Now, when this sort of thing  this sort of thing happens I tend to let it flow.  After all, I was brought up in quite a religious situation. So having a Bible verse cross my mind isn't a shocker. What was strange is that it actually made sense.

WTF.  Yep, I know. Let me explain.  You see, at 43 I’m finally realizing I got a brain that  functions quite well.  At least that’s the impression I get from my wife, from brothers, my father, my friends, some co-workers, and strangers who so happen to take time to converse with me.  Um, I wonder.... perhaps I can use it to hook up with a sweet job. Even though I enjoy the one I’m at, I desire someday to write, research, edit images, and--ya know-- to be creative. Plus I like dealing with the public.

Back to the verse. To me thepart that made sense first was “lean not unto your own understanding.” Um.  Lean not on yourself,  in other words.  Don’t put too much cred into just you.  Many others know more than you.  Others know more about you than you.  Lean not unto your own understanding. Listen others, listen to their ideas. Cut loose the lower ideals you’ve been packing.  Listen to those who understand that you are more than you are.  Perhaps they are right.  If you lean on your own understanding you will never really climb, no matter how much you think you know.  Lean on the words and wisdom of others.  Your own understanding is cool but will only get you so far.

Have faith.  Lean on the words of those who have told you that you are more than you think you are-- that success ( not only material success) will come once you find your niche.  Lean not unto your own understanding. Float on the words of those who have insight no matter how learned they are,  how old they are, how rich or poor they are;  no matter their color,  creed, or ethnicity.  Adhere to the understanding of others.  Lean, hold, hug, and….jump.  Have faith.

Jump.  Yes, jump, take the leap into the abyss. Have faith.  Believe in the faith that others have in you. Your understanding of yourself consists of many conflicting arguments, all of which make sense  depending on what mood you are in at the moment.  Jump.  If you do not, then you will remain a thinker that  builds a pile of neglected dreams, hoarded ideas, jumbled imaginings, and  idle jots. Lean on the words of those around you—except the negative ones, fucking  assholes. Lean not unto your own understanding.  Jump.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…” 

Lord?  I ain’t got  no Lord.  I’m an atheist, God damn it.

But wait.  Wait?  Yes Wait.  Can’t one insert something else important  in place of the word Lord, something perhaps as important to them as word Lord?
 

“Hell no, ain’t no thing gonna replace the Lord. He’s God. That would be blasphemy,” the purist believer says.   

“Nope, can’t do it.  To do so would be acknowledging the word ipso facto .  Fuck that.”  The God hating purist says.

"Chill," I say.  

You can insert whatever you wish. You can give the phrase focus that isn't God, a subject besides God, an important something (or someone) in life that you trust. 

For me it's people: those around me who see things I don't.  For me it is friends, family, teachers, professors, and strangers that have over the years pointed out the positive possibilities in me.  Even though I have ignored their words for many years, I thank them.  At of 43 I’m (finally) starting to think about what they’ve said and to trust them.  I’m not sure how I’m going to show my trust, but I will.  I hope to do it in such as way as to make them all proud. Thanks.

To them I raise my beer. To them I write this prose. “Trust in the Lord with all  your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”   I was thinking about deconstructing the verses around it, or even the all of Proverbs 3. But  as I look  back at what I’ve written I ain’t seeing the need in that.  I’ve already said what needed to be said. Trust in the positive people with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding...or something like that.  Cheers and have a nice day. Peace to all.  Love and smiles.