The school year is coming to an end. Many students are graduating and beginning their search for wisdom. My new job is coming along well. In essance, I had five roles and now my new boss has two of those roles. That brings with it about 45 less relationships to develop. Life is good !

RAGING RIVER - A place for Wisdom.

This is the Suquehanna River raging in the Pittston area. This is just a few miles south of the Wisdom Hunting experience that I will tell you about below. Wisdom comes in a variety of forms in the created world and with your friends.

Susquehanna River & Wisdom

This is the west branch of the Susquehanna River. At this time of the year it is rushing fast as there is snow melting off from the river. Last Sunday my friend invited me to go with him down the river. It was a bright, sunny day in the mid 40's and I looked forward to conversation with him as we traveled. He is a fellow wisdom hunter. His name is Dennis.

He had decided to keep bring his two rowing sculls instead of a canoe. I had only used them one other time, but thought that would be fine as I trust my friend. After about 30 minutes of a 90 minute journey, I began to have a hard time rowing and my hand snagged on my pocket releasing my oar. I fell into the river for the next 20 minutes hanging on to the edge of the boat and struggling to get to the bank. We got to the bank and had one dry shirt left which he let me use. We continued to row downstream hoping to travel the next 45 minutes quickly before shivering in our cores. I began to shiver and said I should go ashore. Dennis helped me land and find a person who let me stay in their car with the heat on. Dennis went on ahead hoping to be back in 30 minutes. I tried to get warm and rubbed my feeting hoping not to have frostbitten feet.

He returned and together we got to the other pick up car. I came home and got in a hot bath. Two days later we met for breakfast and discussed what we had learned. What wisdom do you think we gained? I am still learning, but said to my wife that I might be a cat with nine lives -- this is #3.

Wisdom Hunting Since January

It has been a long time since my last post. I am trying to post at least monthly to share my search for wisdom. Most recently this search has involved a multitude of counselors. I have a group of friends who meet with me once a week. Each are small business owners so there is much in common. I am anticipating this journey of wisdom to move me toward peace. How about you? Where is your journey taking you?

Who is truly hunting for wisdom? Napolean or Julius Caesar?

This past week I read the biographies of Julius Caesar & Napolean Bonaparte while on a vacation in Florida. This was a regular pilgrimage to Disney World which we have engaged in with our other children and their grandparents over the years. This year we also went to the Holy Land Experience. All these circumstances are part of my search for wisdom. In that process I considered Caesar & Napolean as to their value to wisdom hunters. They both were highly involved in the tension of two positions: a democracy of the people and an absolute monarchy of an aristocratic class.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? WHICH REPRESENTED WHICH POSITION? History does not alway give a precise answer. Generally it is a matter of interpretation. If you are interested in the answer consider the character of each person and let me know what you think. :-)

Fenelon's Educational Views

This man's name is Francois Fenelon. the Archbishop of Cambray. He is one of Conrad Hunter's favorite educators.

François de Salignac de la Mothe, more commonly known as François Fénelon lived August 6, 1651 - January 7, 1715. He was a French Roman Catholic theologian, poet and writer. Fénelon is best remembered as the author of The Adventures of Telemachus, interpreted as a scabrous attack on the French monarchy, first published in 1699.

He was born at the Château de Fénelon, in Sainte-Mondane, Perigord.
Fénelon was appointed Archbishop of Cambrai in 1695, however the publication of his Explanation of the Sayings of the Saints on the Interior Life was condemned and Fénelon retired. Here is an example of his wisdom though personally dangerous.

When he was Almoner to Louis XIV his majesty was astonished one Sunday to find, instead of the usual crowded congregation, only himself and his attendants, the priest, and the other officers of the chapel. "What is the meaning of this?" said the king; the prelate answered, "I caused it to be given out, that your majesty did not attend chapel to-day, in order that you might see, who came here to worship God, and who to flatter the King."

How to Hunt for Wisdom?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.