"Listen"

Good way to break a finger,

Or maybe somethin’ worse,

He tipped his hat back on his head,

I thought “You ain’t my nurse.”

 

I was startin’ out a fresh one,

Colt showed that He might buck,

My hand was on the night latch,

I was hopin’ for good luck.

 

My friend, an old bronc stomper,

Lord knows, what he could tell,

And I was young and cocky,

Advice, a big hard sell.

 

‘Cause I thought I knew my business,

And no doubt I could ride,

Much too proud to listen,

Ashamed now I confide.

 

So cocky with my ridin’,

I lit a Marlboro light,

When that pony heard my zippo,

He decided to take flight.

 

Yep, he went to buckin’,

And so far up to go,

And my little finger,

Was broken, don’t you know.

 

Sometimes we look back on it,

And wonder what we thought,

When good folks tried to help us,

Win the battle that we fought.

 

And now that I am tenured,

I will admit it- old,

I look down at that knuckle,

Especially when it’s cold.

 

And see and feel the lesson,

Of when I wouldn’t hear,

The one who gave good counsel,

And tried to make things clear.

 

Lord, help us to listen,

And to listen well,

Save us from our foolishness,

And all Your wisdom tell.

“For the Lord grants wisdom! From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest…” (Proverbs 2:6-7, NLT)

The Lord speaks His wisdom to us, directly by His Spirit, from His inspired word, and through human counselors. The point that is made by scripture is the wisdom is available if we want it. But do we? Sometimes I have gotten honest and humble enough to admit I needed help, and guess what? It was always there for me. The biggest problem was my own egotistical pride that blinded me to my need for the wisdom God wanted to give me. And, unfortunately, I missed it and had to suffer the consequences. Thank God for grace, both to be forgiven and learn from our mistakes. Thank God for the wise advice He offers us.

Lord, help us listen to Your wisdom, in Jesus’ name.

Brad McClain