A few months ago, I got seriously offended because someone suggested that “Ho Chi Minh had it right” when he decided that he wanted to invade South Vietnam. I mean, this dude was talking about my heritage, here. I wanted to punch him in the face because he tried to speak with so much authority when “he just didn’t know.” He thought he was so smart, but he just didn’t know.
I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve had to pull my foot out of my mouth after getting too cocky to too confident. You’d think I know better considering I’ve been alive for 20 years.
We all think we’re so smart and yet no one has completely figured out a clean, reliable alternative fuel source for us to use after we’ve run out of oil. No one’s figured out how to end world hunger or poverty. No one has figured out how to properly overhaul our healthcare system. None of our government officials have figured out that you can’t claim to come in peace when you’ve got enough nuclear warheads stocked up to destroy the world five times over (and keep in mind who voted for these people).
We all think we’re so smart when in reality, we just don’t know.
I’ve been king over Israel in Jerusalem. I looked most carefully into everything, searched out all that is done on this earth. And let me tell you, there’s not much to write home about. God hasn’t made it easy for us. I’ve seen it all and it’s nothing but smoke—smoke, and spitting into the wind.
Life’s a corkscrew that can’t be straightened,
A minus that won’t add up.I said to myself, “I know more and I’m wiser than anyone before me in Jerusalem. I’ve stockpiled wisdom and knowledge.” What I’ve finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless—nothing but spitting into the wind.
Much learning earns you much trouble.
The more you know, the more you hurt.- Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 (MSG)
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I’m pretty sure Ho Chi Minh didn’t ‘have it right’…just sayin.
Word, dude.
This is a great post. If I had a dime for every time I’ve put my foot in my mouth because I just *knew* what was going on (and I didn’t) I could probably retire.
And funny, Solomon figured it out some time ago…
Solomon was the man. I don’t think I could ever read the book of Ecclesiastes enough. I don’t think enough people even knows it exists.
Excellent post, Vy. The lack of “knowing” is something we could talk about forever and ever. I see it everywhere, even in myself sometimes. We all want to know, and feel much better when we do, so sometimes we pretend.
It’s a weird thing to wrestle with, and so is salvation as a whole. I wish I had the words to properly express it. Good thing that got taken care of for me (via the Bible).