
Trinity Sunday
June 12, 2022
This week’s Story at Home marks my last for an unknown length of time. Writing these weekly reflections has been a joy and a help to me and, I hope that, at least on occasion, they have been a joy and a help to you as well.
The Story at Home may well return in the future but I’m not making any promises at this stage! I will definitely be taking break over the summer, as I attend to my doctoral coursework and begin a new appointment at St. Helen’s Anglican Church in Orleans. If it does return, it will be on a new (as yet unknown) platform and the current mailing list will be destroyed next week. In order to receive notification of its return (if it returns…), you can sign up here.
I pray you will continue to bring the Story into your homes each week. Thank you for allowing me to be part of that over these past years.
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: “To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth – when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world’s first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.”

Something to Do
…rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.
What a glorious image: God’s beloved Wisdom delighting not simply in creation but in creation as inhabited by humanity. Find a way to celebrate humanity’s work in creation this week – admire the architectural beauty of buildings and bridges; the blooming beauty of gardens; the delicious beauty of a good meal; the heartwarming beauty of friendship; the inspiring beauty of art. Take it a step farther and add to Wisdom’s delight with your own beautiful contribution.

Something to Wonder
Wisdom calls from all around us
On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals…
Wisdom can be found everywhere – but where do you most reliably find wisdom? When you are in need of sound insight or guidance, where do you go looking? Is it a place? A person? A community?
What is wisdom?
What do you think of when you think of wisdom? Who do you think of as wise? What make them wise? Do you think you are wise? Why or why not?
Can wisdom be acquired? How? or Why not?

Something to Learn
Holy Wisdom
This week’s Working Preacher commentary puts this Proverb’s reading into the context of the Trinity, addressing some of the historical perspectives and tensions. Read the short essay, by Sara M Koenig, Professor of Biblical Studies at Seattle Pacific University.
The always interesting Bible Project offers a video commentary on the figure of Wisdom in Proverbs 8.
And take a look at a popular psychology perspective on wisdom with this article from Psychology Today.

Something to Pray
Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways.
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow.
The story this week has made me wonder about…
(what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.
The story this week has filled me with…
(how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.
The story this week has reminded me of…
(are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.