AGE:
Secondary |
THEME:
Wisdom |
PREPARATION: |
You will need:
- Four readers
- Relaxing or meditative music
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PRESENTATION: |
| READER 1: |
It's a funny word, 'WISDOM', because we use it all the time, or at least words like 'wise'. There are all sorts of sayings about being wise - like 'being wise after the event' - so what is it about being wise?
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| READER 2: |
I read somewhere the wisdom comes from a Greek word 'sophia' and it is a feminine word so obviously the Greeks believed that women were wiser than men.
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| READER 3: |
This is beginning to sound as if it could be the start of a shouting match which is hardly a wise thing to do. I think wisdom is more subtle than we think. Listen to this short story:
'It was a warm evening as dusk was falling and the little dormouse scurried amongst the leaves looking for a last snack before turning in for the night. Suddenly, without warning, she felt herself grabbed in a tight grip and taken up into the air. She twisted her neck around to see she was caught in the talons of an owl. She knew that far from looking for a snack for herself, she was going to provide the owl and his family with their night-time meal.
But she was still alive and, although she was terrified, she remembered a saying that the owl was famous for being a wise old bird. The owl arrived at its nest in a hole in a tree. He set the dormouse down and announced to the hungry brood that supper had arrived and they would all eat very soon - just get ready.
The dormouse looked up at the owl. "How did you know where to find me?" she asked.
The owl replied, "I am a wise old bird. I know where you and your friends hang out. Didn't you know how wise we owls are?"
"Well, there have been rumours", answered the dormouse. "What other things can you do? I know you can fly silently and have amazing eyesight, but what else?"
"I can turn my head right round - 360 degrees", said the owl. "It means I can see everything without moving."
"Wow!" said the dormouse, "that really is unbelievable and it would make you look very wise. Show me."
The owl thought for a moment. He listened to the baby owlets jumping up and down impatiently for their dinner. Then he said, "OK" and whizzed his head around - very fast.
"That was impressive, very impressive", said the dormouse. "Do it again!"
"I will do it again, very slowly this time so you can see it properly", said the owl.
As he turned his head away from the dormouse, his grip eased slightly. The dormouse wriggled free and hurled herself out of the nest. She knew she was so light that she would fall gently to the ground and be able to scurry away to hide without injury.
The owlets screamed at their father, the wise old owl. "We haven't anything to eat now. You are stupid; you have let our supper go. We thought owls were wise."
The owl closed one eye and said to his children, "Sometimes wisdom is about giving people a chance. It is not being all-powerful all the time; it is knowing when to give other people an opportunity and to listen carefully to them. The dormouse used her wisdom to save her life and I used mine to let her. I'll catch something else for supper, don't worry." And off he flew.
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| READER 1: |
The Bible has a lot about wisdom in it:
'A wise son brings joy to his father' (Proverbs 10.1) - and just to stop the arguments I expect wise daughters do too. And 'the first step to wisdom is the fear of the Lord'. (Proverbs 9.10). I think fear means awe and wonder as much as being absolutely terrified like the poor dormouse.
'Accept instruction and not silver, knowledge rather than pure gold; for wisdom is better than red coral, no jewels can match her. I am Wisdom, I grant shrewdness and show the way to knowledge and prudence.' (Proverbs 8.10-12)
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| READER 2: |
Jesus told this story:
'A wise man had the sense to build his house on rock. The rain came down, the floods rose, the wind blew, and beat upon that house; but it did not fall, because its foundations were on rock. But what of the man who hears these words of mine and doesn't act upon them? He is like a man who was foolish enough to build his house on sand. The rain came down, the floods rose, the wind blew, and beat upon that house; down it fell with a great crash'. (Matthew 7.24-27)
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REFLECTION: |
| READER 3: |
Let's finish with a quiet reflection on our actions and out thoughts. Can we think of some times when we haven't acted wisely and who we have hurt because of what we have said or done? Have we used our wisdom to help others? Have we allowed ourselves to act wisely rather than in a thoughtless way? Do we value wisdom and search for it?
While we reflect, think too about these final words:
'Wisdom builds the house, good judgement makes it secure, knowledge furnishes the rooms with all the precious and pleasant things that wealth can buy. Wisdom prevails over strength, knowledge over brute force.' (Proverbs 24.5-6)
'Listen to your father's teaching and do not reject the teaching of your mother; for they are a garland of grace on your head and a chain of honour round your neck.' (Proverbs 1.8-9)
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MUSIC: |
While the students leave, in the background play anything from a relaxing or meditative CD.
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