You Skim, You Lose!

It really bothers me that many (most?) people these days fail to have any reflective reading skills. By this I mean failing to pause quietly and focus intently on a narrative, line of poetry, or even a simple paragraph consisting of 3 or more sentences. Our culture is turning into what I call “headline readers” only. If a text does not say what readers expect within the headline or first sentence, a page turn or click is quickly instantiated. Attenuation skills are all but lost on a paragraph (or two, but certainly not more than 3). Often when composing emails I want to use the subject line as a prescriptive opportunity rather than a descriptive one. Something like: “SUBJECT: PLEASE TAKE TIME TO OPEN THIS EMAIL AND READ THE WHOLE DARN THING!” Thanks to Twitter (140 characters? C’MON!!) and the click-through capabilities of every web page, we can move from shopping for shoes at Zappos.com to learning what Wikipedia says about the gestation period of a porcupine in less than 4 seconds!

This is why I love the book of Proverbs. It forces me to slow down and ponder what is written. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on Proverbs 17. Here are my thoughts (in bold). Ironically, it’s only fitting to end with 17:28.

17:1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.
Some things are more important than others. Priorities matter.

17:2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
Position and placement in life does not always result in privilege. Prudence matters.

17:3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the LORD tests the heart.
Intentions are the rails upon which our actions are judged. Motives matter.

17:4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
Deceitful people pay homage to deceit. Truth matters.

17:5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
God takes things personally. Others matter.

17:6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
Careers, wealth, fame do not distinguish us. Family matters.

17:7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
Words are not only tools of thought but instruments of power for change. Speech matters.

17:8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn.
Presumption is an ingredient for failure. Discernment matters.

17:9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
To love others is to hold no record of wrongs. Forgiveness matters.

17:10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
Don’t waste your discipline! Discipline matters.

17:11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.
No one escapes justice. Actions matter.

17:12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.
The havoc resulting from foolishness is immeasurable. Wisdom matters.

17:13 Evil will never leave the house
of one who pays back evil for good.
What goes around comes around. Goodness matters.

17:14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
With many words transgression is unavoidable. Silence matters.

17:15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
the LORD detests them both.
An eye for an eye actually isn’t so bad. Justice matters.

17:16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?
The right tool in the wrong hands is vain. Alignment matters.

17:17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
There is a human bond greater than biology. Faithfulness matters.

17:18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbor.
Weighing options first is always better. Foresight matters.

17:19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
Being defensive causes strife. Openness matters.  

17:20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
An open mouth shines a spotlight on the heart’s condition. Purity matters.

17:21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.
We reap what we sow. Parenting matters.

17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
How we express ourselves to others impacts them. Optimism matters.

17:23 The wicked accept bribes in secret
to pervert the course of justice.
One weak link weakens the whole chain. Purpose matters.

17:24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
A distinguishing mark of a fool is aimlessness. Goals matter.

17:25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
Parents who grieve over a wayward child often do so because they taught them better. Obedience matters.

17:26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
Governments aren’t required to be perfect to earn your respect. Respect matters.

17:27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
Spewing and gushing knowledge is no sign of intelligence. Gentleness matters.

17:28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.
Fewer words are better.  Selah!