Are you feeding the brand that bites you?

Contributed By:Dorothy Nevils

“The world is getting weaker and wiser.”

I used to hear that a lot when I was young. The old folks said it, over and over and over, like it was gospel. They squinted their eyes, cocked their heads to the side, and said ominously, “The Bible say the world gonna get weaker and wiser!”

Then they’d clamp their teeth and do that “setting thing” with their lower jaw, waiting a few long, long seconds until it sank in, then relaxing their bodies and shuffling off. They believed it, and wanted to make sure that whoever stood in front of them was sufficiently shaken before moving away.

This thing about “weaker and wiser” has long stuck with me, partly because I’ve always been sort of what my dad described as “contrary,” questioning everything, then disputing it all, which kept me in trouble; in that respect, however, I was a lot like him. So, I wasn’t satisfied – just like him – until I found the source, II Samuel 3:1: The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

If he were alive, I can just imagine his scoffing at just one more of what he’d consider erroneous interpretation that kept him arguing with others at New Bethel MB Church in Mounds; and if he were around now, I’m sure he’d say with contempt that what we are experiencing now is not wisdom. In fact, he’d hang the tag “foolish” over most of what’s going on.

I worry indeed that, though opportunity for learning abounds, we are not as wise as we should be, and I ascribe that to our reluctance to read. We’ve moved from a period of history where reading was, if not forbidden, definitely not encouraged. All kinds of obstacles were placed between people and reading, for reading meant access to knowledge, and knowledge meant power, strength.

Now, there is no way that we can claim that reading is barred, that our young are not allowed to read. Not reading is a choice, and when we make that choice, we pay dearly. So, however, do others, for ignorance impacts everybody. Let me explain.

Many of us have not a clue, for example, what the term GMO means. It’s just a trio of letters of no concern. So we buy “stuff” we “need,” having nary a clue what it is. We buy from whoever has whatever to sell, with no inkling of what the companies stand for, how they make their profits, or how others are impacted. Because we don’t read, we line the pockets of producers and sellers whose products “rape” us. No, we cannot know everything about everything, but to know nothing about anything?

When is the last time you paid attention to brand names and let their policies guide your purchase? Are you feeding the brand that bites you?

We must, have to, concentrate on getting wiser! We have, as my dad would say, the cart before the horse! Wisdom doesn’t just come; it follows knowledge, which comes from reading… Now that’s real strength!

Story Posted:10/16/2016