Look Before You Leap

“Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” (Pr 4:26 AV)

Note here that Solomon instructs his son to ponder not the feet, but the path of the feet.  What direction he is going as well as from whence he came.  Not like going down a set of stairs; one step at a time.  Rather, like walking along in the woods with a destination in mind.  Where we chose to place our foot should be thought through before a step is taken.  Seeking the safest and most productive way based on objective before the journey begins is the wisest course of action.  Looking before one steps is always good advice.

One of the styles of deer hunting my father-in-law taught me was still hunting.  This style of hunting is the method of hunting from the ground, walking through the woods, stalking your game.  To me, it is the most successful and fun way of bagging a deer with a firearm.  It keeps you warm, too.  When still hunting, it is far more complicated than what one might think.  Often, one must divert from the well worn beaten path and traverse thinker woods.  That is where the deer are bedded down, hiding from their predators.  The technique involves matching the cadence of a large animal going through the woods.  It means one must look well enough ahead so one doesn’t step on sticks or limbs that will snap.  One must look ahead to avoid thickets, downed trees that must be hurdled, or ravines that must be traversed.  It means choosing the quietest path yet one that is not too well traveled.  In snake country, one must be very aware of snake dens or where poisonous vipers might lurk.  Flat and slick rocks are voided.  Low-laying limbs are to circumvented.  Each step must be planned and often hundreds of steps beforehand.  This is the idea of the proverb above.

Wisdom is the understanding of long-term consequences.  It sees things well enough in advance to make plans that will mitigate possible hazards.  It’s thinking ahead so that mistakes are not made.  It is looking at the end of choices and not the immediate results.  This wisdom takes discipline of heart and mind.  It takes experience.  It takes maturity. It takes discipline.  It is wisdom we need.