Proverbs 13:16 Yard sale: everything is free!

All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.

Proverbs 13:16 NIV

As I am reading through the Proverbs, I often check what commentators say about a verse, hoping to understand the language better. I regularly pick up on a sense of black and white; the writer’s perspective is typically the standard of prudence and those fools, whoever they are, will reap the results of their foolishness. No one intends to project a judgmental spirit, but subtle as it is, it’s there. I think about the leadership technique both a boss and parent often use to adjust behavior: shame. Don’t be like one of them. But in reality, I know I personally have some level of prudence and folly — and I suspect most people have a little bit of each to different degrees. My daily journey of choices displays both.

The word Solomon uses for “expose” means to spread out, like a bird spreads his wings to fly or protect. Like a peacock strutting his stuff. It’s a verb also meaning to display, like a vendor with his wares in the marketplace. Who would want to take their ignorance, stupidity, or foolishness and put it on display for all to see? Yet, in small ways we do that every day. Sometimes we even put it in writing for our posterity. Gasp!

Any behavior is on display one way or another. A seasoned parent will observe a meltdown of a another’s child at the grocery store and observe the parent’s response and think of the handful of things she could have done differently. But that should not stop anyone from living out loud, authentically. Failures should not create timidity. Of course, it’s better to express, discipline, create or build something with a plan. Parenting purposefully. Making dinner with a tried and true recipe will usually give you a better meal than winging it in the pantry — although I have been pleasantly surprised what blessings spontaneity can provide at dinner.

I’m still stuck on spreading out my folly for all to see… so what can I do about it? Maybe start by laughing. Hard. Because it happens to everyone. Then admit it. Own it. Open my heart to a different way. Humility and child-likeness wear well on everyone. Honor those who know what they are doing. Listen to those that have a tip to share. When the meltdown in the grocery store happens next time, look up and deeply soak in the empathy of 100 other parents looking on joyfully that they are not you in that moment. Two verses earlier:

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

Proverbs 13:14 NIV

Exposing my folly sure feels like “the snares of death” at the time! I would love to think I’m prudent, and act with knowledge. And I aspire to. But in the meantime, you can find me, like the peacock, with wings spread for the world to see, or like a “garage sale” littering my front lawn with my sprawling chaos, making a fool of myself because I want to live, and live fully. God help me when I think that I’ve arrived.

To end with the beginning brings me to the prudent who act with knowledge. Those know-it-alls who put me to shame. Knowing something is not bad. It’s good. I went to Zoo Lights yesterday and saw two massive lines to get in. I took some time to find that one line was to buy tickets, the other for those who had pre-purchased. Thankfully I already had purchased my tickets. My family, who was still coming, had a zoo membership so when I reached the front I asked which line zoo members should be in. The attendant pointed to a window with no line. So I sent a message to my son letting him know. Knowledge = faster entrance = good. Learning something takes time. In my example it took an extra 3 minutes. But it saved about 20. There was another family in front of me in the “pre-purchased tickets” line. They snaked in the line with others to the entrance only to see they needed a ticket, which they didn’t have. After all that waiting they again moved to the end of the “buy ticket” line and start over, which stretched to the parking lot. Ouch!

So what is the wisdom in making this obvious distinction between the sagacious and fools? This is a statement about object lessons. They are around me every day and provide limitless opportunity for learning. When observing the two, the prudent one simply disappears into the environment. There’s nothing to see. He conducts his business fluidly and life works as it is expected. Like watching someone walk, people do not stop and take notice, it just happens. In contrast, those that are on “display” are those with behaviors or transactions that we notice because they are off a little. Sometimes a lot. They provide an object lesson of what NOT to do. If I am the new person at a new school and I want to blend in, I shouldn’t arrive late to class when everyone else is seated. Wouldn’t it be better to arrive early? Then no one notices and I also get a chance to chat with others also arriving early. People notice foolishness. If I am a new car owner, wouldn’t it be better to read the maintenance manual to ensure I am caring for my vehicle properly? Imagine sitting on the side of the road with an engine that has frozen because I never checked or changed the oil? I would be on display for all to see. With a new car. Stuck. Ouch. This is the wisdom — pay attention to the lessons that fools provide daily. They stand out. Fruit comes from the tree, and the tree of the fool provide me a daily feast.

And the best thing? There is no charge for these lessons. Fools give them away without an entrance fee. Such a shame.

As I finish writing this, I check my pockets. They are empty. Oh no! I forgot to charge for this. Such a shame.