June 15, Trinity C (Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31)

In February, I had a chance to visit with my grandchildren, two of whom are toddlers. The 11-month-old vocalized and used some ASL signs to tell us what they wanted. Eleven seemed delighted when their communications connected with parents and grandparents and cried sadly when not understood. Mobile on all fours but not yet walking alone, Eleven relied on adult assistance a lot more than their cousin. The 16-month-old had reached a different level of development, largely free-range physically but expressing frustration when communications did not connect. Sixteen seemed aware that power and control rely not only on size and coordination but also on being understood. All of the joys and frustrations of both cousins are developmentally appropriate; they are also phases that will have passed and transitioned into something else by the next time we are together in person. They will grow wiser about their worlds.

They will learn most of what they need to know by simply playing and being.

The New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition invites such an interpretation in its choice to describe Wisdom as “playing,” a change from the previous translation, “rejoicing.” The Hebrew word means something like “gamboling,” a word that suggests the awkward and joyful romping of lambs in a field or the levitating abandon my chocolate lab exhibits when chasing a toy I’ve thrown. “Playing” feels lighthearted; it’s a counterintuitive way to think of the personification of wisdom if we consider the wise to be learned, aged, or gravely authoritative.