Foolish:
- Lacking or exhibiting a lack of good sense or judgement; silly: foolish remarks.
- Resulting from stupidity or misinformation; unwise: a foolish decision.
- Arousing laughter; absurd or ridiculous: a foolish grin.
- Immoderate or stubborn; unreasonable: foolish pride; foolish love.
- Embarrassed; abashed: I feel foolish telling you this.
- Insignificant; trivial: spent all their money on foolish little knickknacks.
Not the qualities we would necessarily look for in candidates for leadership positions, but then we are not God! A quick read through the Bible reveals that God often chooses fools to accomplish his purposes, and that in the process those fools find themselves transformed!
Take a look at Peter- qualifications- ability to put his foot in it! Or David- hmmm good decision, adultery and murder.... or Sarah laughing at the absurdity of conception.... or Samson whose pride and foolish choices were ultimately his downfall, and yet still God used him. How about the young and probably uneducated Mary- chosen to be the mother of the Messiah!
Does God smile as true potential is released in us, when from beyond our stumbling inadequacies new strengths are revealed?I hope so, and it is because of this that I know that God can and will use me, despite my failings and my awkwardness....
So here I am , the woman who as a teenage wouldn't say boo to a goose, a trip to the store to buy something terrified me- I hated the thought that I might have to speak to somebody!!!...and God in Her infinite wisdom has called me to preach and teach...you can't get more foolish than that....or can you????
So can a fool be a guide and teacher? Certainly the archetypal fool found in Rider Waite Tarot suggests that he can if we dare to see further than the obvious surface appearance:
Stepping off the edge of the precipice without a seemingly without a care in the world the fool challenges us to look again! For the staff that carries his bag is the shepherds crook- suggesting that this fool bring spiritual direction to us, could this fool be the good shepherd? The white rose he carries symbolises eternal life, suggesting that there is more to be gained by stepping over the edge than death, and yet that he is willing to go there for our sake!
Waite himself describes the fool as "a Prince of the other world on his travels through this one". The fool if we dare to truly see him reveals himself as our guide, our universal hero who awakens sleeping beauty from her slumber and invites her into a dance with the divine!
I am told by more than a few folk that my use of Tarot to connect with the New Age/ Spiritual seeking community is foolish but then God uses foolish things and foolish people, dare we take a second look???
Can a man dying on a cross over 2,000 years ago make a difference in my life?
Other synchrobloggers this month include:
Quiet Now, God's Calling by Jenelle D'Alessandro
Phil at Square No More
The Power of Paradox by Julie Clawson
That Darn Ego by Jonathan Brink
Won't Get Fooled Again by Alan Knox
Foolish Heart by Erin Word
A Fool's Choice by Cindy Harvey
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right... by Mike Bursell
Ship of Fools by David Fisher
Hut Burning for God by Father Gregory
God Used This Fool by Cobus van Wyngaard
Blessed are the foolish -- foolish are the blessed by Steve Hayes
Fool if you think its over Paul Walker
Strength on the Margins by Adam Gonnerman
What a Fool I've Been by Reba
Sonja at Ravine of Light
And Sally at Sally's Journey
