Talk to the Greats

Who would you talk to if you could? I mean, a heart to heart conversation--just the two of you. My wife used to imagine what it would be like to sit on the porch with Billy Graham and a glass of lemonade. You and Abraham Lincoln? Queen Elizabeth II? Martin Luther? And of course, there's King David, Daniel, and Mary Magdalen. 

And there are those modern icons you might find interesting. Whether you see the world as they do or not, you could have some interesting chats. Imagine asking Warren Buffet what it's like to know the financial markets hang on your words. Or asking Billy Joel what he felt the first time he heard Piano Man on the radio. Or asking the Duchess of York what was her favorite moment with Queen Elizabeth. 

The limitations of time and space often make these conversations impossible. It's so much about who you are and who you know. 

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. (Proverbs 4:7 NLT)

It sounds redundant; getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do. Yet that's what the book of wisdom teaches. Go after wisdom. Not just information. Anyone can scroll through information on google for hours. But wisdom? It takes some getting. It takes a pursuit. 

Maybe you and I can't sit down for an hour with Abraham Lincoln and ask about leading in crisis times. Or ask Larry Burkett about managing money and investing. But in another way, we can. When you sit down with a book and read what Lincoln did during the civil war and what his priorities were, you are gaining wisdom. When you read what Burkett did during a recession, you are pursuing wisdom not just information. This is more than knowledge. It's learning from the experiences and mistakes of others. 

Can I challenge you to read a little bit every day? Here at the beginning of a new year, commit to just 10-15 minutes a day and you'll have read about 12-15 books this year. Imagine the difference it would make in exchanging 10 minutes of doom scrolling for the wisdom of Solomon or Billy Graham! Instead of comparing your life to the rich and famous who haven't finished living, consider the experiences of lives well-lived--like Elisabeth Elliot, C.S. Lewis, or Hudson Taylor.

 You can talk to great men and women. Read their books.