Black, White, and Grey

Dear Wisdom.    We read the Solomon story in the children's Bible again last night.  I definitely need to dig a little deeper especially for your sake as I wouldn't want to burden you, a baby, with excessively high expectations.   Knowing the difference between right and wrong seems pretty black and white.   As far as I can tell there's a lot more chocolate and cream and cinnamon and honey and not to mention grey around here (and anywhere I've lived) than black & white.  Sure, stealing is wrong.    But, what about foreign companies from high-tech countries coming to low-tech, low-resource countries and mining for gold (this is literally on the table currently for Haiti) without paying enough for the gold or labour to extract it or for the environmental repair.   Hurting people is wrong.  But what if the people you are hurting by buying a T-shirt for $10 is a cotton farmer that you've never met?  What if you are helping your neighbour who works at the store where you bought the T-shirt?  What if the government of your country of citizenship is making policies that hurt people in your neighbourhood, country, or another place?   What if you don't know how to reach or relate to people that are hurting?  

I'm going to dig deeper into the meaning of wisdom.   We'll see what I find.  In the meantime and for the moment, there are a few things that I know for sure are right.  

Tree-ripened fruit is definitely right.   Vine-ripened fruits are also right.   Chadèk (Haitian grapefruit), zoranj dous (sweet oranges), and grenadya (passionfruit).   Enjoy these as they come to you as you are sharing your full season with theirs.    

(Clean) Water is by far the right-est drink to date.   Drinking it regularly goes a long way to health and healing, as does being honest with others but especially with yourself.  

Feelings are not good or bad, right or wrong but they are feelings and they are important.  

It's right to apologize when you feel sorry.  

Right is the opposite of left.  

Doing the right thing will not necessarily earn you accolades.  

If you don't get accolades, it doesn't mean it's wrong.  Look at Jesus for examples of this.   The writings of Shane Claiborne may also help.  

Sincerely, your ally in love and righteousness-seeking