Tag Archives: spring

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wisdom

W for wisdom in Blogging from A to Z, Virtues and views.

Wisdom is the last of the four cardinal virtues held in high esteem by the Greeks and Romans, along with prudence, temperance and fortitude. These were joined with the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity to make Seven. That list differs from the list to balance the 7 Sins. And I am more interested in the emotions then whether they are virtues or sins.

I am thinking about wisdom and what it means to me, and whether I feel wise. I have knowledge and information that I can access in my memory in clinic. Does that make me feel wise? It isn’t the amount of information that defines wisdom for me: it is whether I can communicate with my patient in a way that is mutually beneficial. Do I understand their goals and their questions and is my information or style of imparting it useful to them? Does it improve their health? Sometimes understanding what the question is or what lies behind it is more important than medicine.

And again, there is a change from Webster 1913 to the present Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com writes about scholarly information or wise sayings. Webster 1913 talks about the use of knowledge and wise judgements. It is not the amount of knowledge but the ability to communicate and make use of it. To me wisdom is closer to Webster 1913 than to the present definition on Dictionary.com.

From Webster 1913 on everything2.com, wisdom:

1. The quality of being wise; knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it; knowledge of the best ends and the best means; discernment and judgment; discretion; sagacity; skill; dexterity.

We speak also not in wise words of man’s wisdom, but in the doctrine of the spirit. Wyclif (1 Cor. ii. 13).

Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Job xxviii. 28.

It is hoped that our rulers will act with dignity and wisdom that they will yield everything to reason, and refuse everything to force. Ames.

Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom. Coleridge.

2. The results of wise judgments; scientific or practical truth; acquired knowledge; erudition.

Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. Acts vii. 22.

From Dictionary.com

noun
1. the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.
2. scholarly knowledge or learning:
the wisdom of the schools.
3. wise sayings or teachings; precepts.
4. a wise act or saying.
5. (initial capital letter) Douay Bible. Wisdom of Solomon.

I am submitting the photograph to Thursday Doors. I took this in my neighborhood yesterday. I did not even see the door until I looked at the result….

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faith

I am looking for my post from last year for f and it looks like I skipped f! Oh, woe is me! I thought I had completed the A to Z Challenge!

F for faith. Faith is one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude, faith, hope and charity. This is a different list from one that was written later to match and oppose the Seven Sins: chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness and humility.

Both lists have charity and temperance in common, but the rest differ. Which list appeals to you most? If we combine them then we have 12 virtues.

I chose the 7 Sins last year as a theme to write about emotions. We don’t use the virtues as emotions as much. Who says “I am feeling diligent, temperant, just?”

And for faith, I walked two days ago. This tree was just starting to bud out: faith that spring will return, hope will return, justice will return, love will return, after the winter, after the war, after death and darkness and loss. Faith is spring and buds and flowers and the new green hope and joy.

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ardor

“the flowers that bloom in the spring, tra, la!”

I walk uptown today in the sun and the birds and I are out in the sun. It is warm and just amazing. There are flowers everywhere. Arriving home I change to bike gear and then it’s cloudy again. I change out and here is the sun. I will do the A to Z after all, because I am posting daily anyhow and the alphabet trickles round my thoughts. A, a day, a day late, arduous or ardor?

The birds and I are
slain by the sun: welcome
ardor spring flowers

My topic is Virtues and Views….there are Seven Virtues just as there are Seven Sins. Last year I wrote about a different feeling each day. Are the virtues feelings? And there is more than one list of virtues….

 

 

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Under the camillia

My mother had many of her copies of Louisa May Alcott’s books, including the odd moral fairy tales. One is Under the Lilacs. I loved slipping into that world that was quite different from my own, in so many small details.

Thursday I was coughing and had no voice. I cancelled clinic and lay on the couch. In the warmest part of the day I lay bundled in the sun, under the camillia.