3 Points to Ponder
- “Intelligent people say the right answers, but wise people ask the right questions. Do you tend to jump to answers or do you pause to ask the right questions?”
- “You can have all the right answers, but if you can’t connect to people to guide them, it means nothing. How much effort do you put into connecting with people where they are at versus speaking over them?”
- “We can learn from anyone and all circumstances. Are you humble enough to keep learning?”
2 Quotes to Share
“Wise men speak because they have something to say. Fools because they have to say something.” -Plato
“Knowledge is realizing that the street is one way; wisdom is looking both directions anyway.” -Albert Einstein
1 Story of Impact
One of the most surprising and awe-inspiring moments for me is God connecting Many Hands with Lumanès Auguste. I was first introduced to Lumanès when he was a Many Hands board member, bravely stepping forward to help guide us in 2014. After examining Lumanès’s heart and his desire to bring Good News to people, he became our first Many Hands Chaplain, going house-to-house to talk to people about life, family and Jesus. As our western bias often does, many people think Haitians aren’t intelligent because of their lack of resources and educational opportunities. This just isn’t true. Lumanès is one of the wisest, most practical, and most logical men I’ve ever met. And he is always smiling, as he is an ambassador for Christ everywhere he goes. He is warm and welcoming, no matter if it is someone of importance from the government or a poor widow on a dirt floor in a rundown home. Early on, we noticed Lumanès had such a practical approach in how he would share the Good News with people. Many times, he would speak in parables or stories relatable to the people he was trying to encourage, reprimand, or open a different level of thinking on a matter. After making many visits, Christi complimented him on the way he talked to people. He responded that he liked to use a way of presenting something a person can see and comprehend to help the person understand the things they can’t see or comprehend. What is your definition of wise? And how do you use wisdom? Being smart and being wise are two different things. Smart people can’t help someone discover that truth for themselves. I ask for you to pray for Pastor Lumas this week, as earlier this summer he suffered a stroke and is still recovering his abilities. We pray for his full restoration, as he brings such wisdom to our team.
