Eyes Set on the Ends of the Earth
It is wonderful when people are optimistic, and they wish to discover the world, realizing how little they have seen. The world we live in is vast and beautiful, full of wonder. As a result, some set their sight on distant ambitions, on exotic destinations, on exciting places that others only talk about. It is most alluring to dream of visiting places unknown, undiscovered, to venture far. It's not hard to identify with this desire for adventure. It's exciting to experience something new that we have never seen.
The words of King Shlomo (Solomon) draw an interesting contrast with such endeavors. Too often, when we set our eyes on the ends of the earth, we miss something precious right in front of us. What is right in front of us? Wisdom... But not just obscure or generic wisdom, it's the knowledge, experience, and understanding drawn from those near to us, usually our own family. King Solomon said,
Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. (Proverbs 17:24 NASB)
One does not have to be a fool to recognize foolish behavior, impulses of the untamed heart, and decisions of the unwise made in haste. Our eyes lead us, and their guidance is not always the best for us; fools reveal themselves to be such because they give in to the guidance of their eyes too easily. Wisdom is not achieved overnight, and some of the best lessons we learn in life are the ones we learn on our own, often through mistakes. So mistakes are not the end of the world. Yet, we should not lose sight of the source of wisdom and experience that is right in front of us. Staying focused on the source of wisdom is how many mistakes can be avoided.
Hopefully, we all have someone close who can be a source of such wisdom. For many of us, these are our own family members, often parents and grandparents. You may discover some wisdom at the ends of the world, too, but your parents and grandparents, your elders and mentors, have most likely already learned many of those lessons. They can’t explain to you everything in life, but they can explain to you what matters most and often how life works.
Yet just because someone is an older family member, it does not mean they are automatically wise. They may be wiser than some, but not necessarily shrewd or insightful when it comes to making difficult life choices. That is never a guarantee. And wisdom does not always correspond to age, which brings us back to focusing on the source of wisdom. Those who recognize this source are the ones usually worth listening to.
Pinchas Shir
As we set our eyes on the ends of the earth, we should not lose sight of the sound and sensible offers we have right in front of us. Many of us have been given gifts that we may not fully appreciate: wise family members, mentors, friends, who seek after Hashem’s wisdom themselves, who seek to grow and improve themselves, day after day. Allow them to speak and allow them to guide us right where we are, at the stage of life we are in. And the ends of the earth, those will be ours in due time.
Hebrew-English Interlinear Psalms
For those who love Psalms and especially love the way they sound in Hebrew, this handy volume presents them in an interlinear format. As it is with most poetry, sometimes translations are not so straightforward, and it's so easy to see what original words lay behind the English text. This volume allows students of Hebrew to quickly build their biblical Hebrew vocabulary and, at the same time, immerse themselves into their favorite psalms. I have used it for both study and for devotional reading as well. And I can recommend it for those who would like to try the Psalms in original and grow in their comprehension of the biblical language as they read.
