Smartness, Intelligence.
Just a few words about smartness or intelligence. Human beings are so impressed by it, and also, by the gift of leadership.
In certain ways, I think I’m pretty smart, although no leader. Many of us think the same thing. We think we know and understand.
The game of chess is an indicator of mental perception/capacity, smartness. And there are IQ tests that evaluate a person’s mental state, high or low or in-between. No doubt, there is a widespread difference in mental abilities. There are very smart people out there.
Are you (or I) one of them? Probably not although we would like to think so.
And does it matter? Does our personal intelligence have anything to do with the purpose of our life, our being here?
I’ve discovered a computer chess game and have been playing against the computer for quite some time. It is plain and clear to me that I’m not very smart at all—can’t see ahead the good moves to make. Kind of discouraging, but enlightening. The computer game showed me my mental limitations.
Wisdom and knowledge is so good! A lot of people wander around in the delusion of their own smartness, high intelligence. They go out, extend themselves into greater delusions of their own personal abilities—and, the hard lesson comes (sometimes later). It is written that after pride comes the fall.
So, what does this mean? Is there something beyond, more than, the intelligent perceptions of gifted human beings? Is there hope for people who are not so smart?
In the overall scheme of things, of life itself and the purpose of our being here, intelligence matters not a bit. What matters is our framework, the direction in which we orient ourselves. No matter our state of gifted intelligence, we can decide, this way or that. And all of us are set with a basic understanding of good and bad—we can go either way. The choice is ours. This is why we are here.
As we understand our own limitations and rely less on our own gifted abilities and perceptions, our minds are opened in a surprising way. It is like the “narrow gate” that is hidden and difficult, is now visible, viable and open (ref. Mat.7:13-14).
We can proceed through, not relying on our own importance but upon a new and exciting and wonderful way that is open and available for our exploration! And there is much to explore!
