by Russell Dawson

Created on: December 14, 2006   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

I think I know how my grandfather, the wisest man I have ever known, would answer this question, and since he is no longer with us, I will attempt to answer on his behalf.

While not very talkative (how wise is that!), I think grandpa would agree that being wise is not about what you know, but rather about what you do. He volunteered as a medic in World War II because that would enable him to serve how he wanted to serve, rather than being conscripted and thrown into the regular ranks. He wasn't trying to avoid serving-as a farmer's son he begged his father not to exercise the family's right to request his early discharge to help with the farm.

By being careful with their money, growing and preserving a lot of their own food, he and my grandmother managed to build up their means so that while only ever earning a modest income and raising four children, they retired in comfort. When he passed away, my grandmother was left comfortably enough to both live securely and be generous with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

As a child, I remember him having the 'Serenity Prayer' hanging in his bedroom. The prayer, which is often attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr, goes as follows:

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."

Even as a small child I would reflect on those words and have tried to abide by them my entire life. I can know them by heart, but I realize that only by doing them can I ever hope to be the least bit wise.

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