Wisdom

Hear, my child, and accept my words,

    that the years of your life may be many.

I have taught you the way of wisdom;

    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

When you walk, your step will not be hampered,

    and if you run, you will not stumble.

Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;

    guard her, for she is your life. ~ Proverbs 4:10:13

In Proverbs, Wisdom is imagined as a woman. And for some, Wisdom is also viewed as being the same as the Holy Spirit.

Now, that's a highly debated idea, but the fact that it is one that has been held for many years should give us pause.

Women have been relegated to second class citizens for much of the history of Christianity. There is a movement now even among some evangelical circles to call for the end of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote.

There are still churches that won't ordain women, despite the fact that in the first three hundred years or so of Christianity, women served as deacons, ministers, missionaries, teachers, apostles, prophets, and house church leaders.

After the 4th century, women began to be written out of the narrative by male church leaders.

Whether the Holy Wisdom of the Proverbs and the Holy Spirit are the same or not, wisdom guides us not to neglect the calling of those whom God has gifted to serve regardless.

Because God has called and continues to call those whom we might not expect.

Open my eyes and heart to those you have called to serve you. Amen