Morning Prayer: Tom Lyda Hymn of Listening *The Voice of God is Calling* Steve Curtis, tenor Witness of Scripture: James 2: 14-26, Luke 12: 34-35 Solo *Les Voix Humaines* Marais. Anthony Stoops, double bass Sermon *What's wrong with us when this becomes work* Steve Graham
Recorded August 10, 2025
Light and Warmth for the Journey
A Celebration of the Good News with the Beloved Community First Christian Church, Norman, Oklahoma Rev. Dr. Stephen D. Graham
August 17, 2025
Proverbs 1:20–33 Sue and Mike, dear friend since grade school, joined our family in Santa Fe three years ago for the celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary. I found myself that evening recalling a moment from long ago—one of those luminous memories that still warms the soul. It was from a time when Sue was our church pianist, and I stood beside her as the congregation affirmed her following a stirring performance of The Messiah. The choir that evening was a combined group of over a hundred voices from three different congregations and a full orchestra. Glowing from the experience, Sue turned to me and said, “I’ve always dreamed of playing with a full orchestra. Tonight, my dream came true.” That moment of fulfillment didn’t arrive overnight. It was the fruit of years of preparation, persistence, and encouragement. I remember those childhood days, when we kids were outside playing on the block and the fun was reaching its peak, invariably Sue’s mother would step out on the porch and call for her—not just “Sue,” but her full name, “Mardonna Sue!” Yelled out in 5 syllables not 4! “Mar-don-na Su-ue!” And we all knew what that meant: it was time for Sue to head home and practice the piano. Her journey to that night’s triumphant performance had been guided by many voices of wisdom along the way—beginning with the loving
insistence of her mother, calling her home not to deprive her of joy, but to invest in her promise. Proverbs speaks of Wisdom in just this way—an active, intentional voice guiding us through life’s decisions. Wisdom, in the book of Proverbs, is not merely abstract insight gained from life experience. It is personified as a woman—Lady Wisdom—who raises her voice in the streets, who shouts from the public square, who will not be silenced. She calls out in the bustle of daily life, in the courthouse and the marketplace, offering direction, correction, and encouragement. And make no mistake—Wisdom doesn’t speak only to the elite or the religious. Her voice is for everyone. As Proverbs tells us: “Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her speech. In the middle of the traffic, she takes her stand. At the busiest corner, she calls out!” (Proverbs 1:20–21, MSG) In this sense, Wisdom is not so different from the voice of a parent calling us back from distraction to practice what matters. She speaks with urgency, not to scold, but to summon. We need Wisdom’s voice, especially when our powers of observation fail, when we can’t seem to make sense even of our painful experiences. Wisdom speaks—not in secret but in public. Not in whispers, but with clarity. And her call, though strong, is born of love. As is Jesus' strong word to his disciples following him, “You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:56). Oh, that Mother Wisdom would call out in these United States. My Native American friends remind me that everywhere you look, creation tells you something about the Creator. Wisdom is embedded in the world around us. If you put two and two together, you learn how
to live well. But sometimes Wisdom must break in through disruption, not ease. Like fire, the warmth that comforts can also burn. Proverbs says, “Give heed to my reproof.” (v. 23a) And then Wisdom promises, “Listen! I can revise your life. I’m ready to pour out my spirit on you. I’m ready to tell you everything I know.” (vv. 23b–24) Wisdom reproofs with love. It is not condemnation, but compassionate correction—divine insight that longs to help us grow. Just like little Madeline, our granddaughter, who had a strong sense of urgency to correct her mom with sweet conviction. She was three years old, and they were shopping for her very first ballerina outfit. Madeline had already made it clear that she wanted a purple one. But when her mom reached toward a pink outfit—just to check the size—Madeline called out in that persistent voice only toddlers can master: “Purple! Purple! Purple!” Sometimes the voice of Wisdom is just like that—unyielding, loving, and crystal clear. Not with half-truths and argument but with insistent love, love. love. Heaven knows Wisdom prompts even tough love. Proverbs later reveals that Wisdom isn’t just practical advice; it is divine. Chapter 8 tells us that Wisdom was with God before the foundations of the earth were laid. Wisdom is not an afterthought; she is primary. “The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,” she says (Proverbs 8:22). She is God’s delight and daring—a companion to creation itself. Give us a deep curiosity to know and seek God’s wisdom and to pray each day,
“We pray this day that we have received from you, that we may live it back to you, in wonder, love, and praise. Amen. (Walter Brueggemann).
To treasure Wisdom, then, is to treasure the very heart of God. All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, Our Lord God made them all. Let the beauty of creation and the depth of your own experience point you back to the Creator God—the source of everything bright, beautiful, wise, and wonderful. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself” (5:19). And in Christ, we see not only redemption but revelation—a face that shines with Wisdom. Wisdom is not attained in a flash of brilliance. It comes little by little. A fool looks at a mountain and says, “I could never move that.” But a wise person says, “I can move one basket of dirt today, and another tomorrow.” Composer Igor Stravinsky once said, “Revolution means turning the wheel.” Jim Collins picked up on this in his study of businesses that went from good to great. He found that transformation didn’t come from a single dramatic moment. It came from “relentlessly pushing a heavy flywheel in one direction, turn upon turn, building momentum until a breakthrough came—and beyond.” Faith works like that, too. The wisdom of God may seem unreachable at first. But day by day, with God’s help and the Spirit’s prompting, you can move forward. Step by step. Prayer by prayer. Turn by turn. Some say the ways of God are too lofty. But others climb steadily toward the heights, guided by Wisdom’s voice. The path of faith isn’t always easy, but it is illuminated—lit by the divine voice that calls you
by name, that beckons you home, that invites you to grow and live in grace. So, let us listen. Let Wisdom walk with us. Let her fill our backpacks with tools for the road. Let her guide our hearts and minds toward the good, the true, and the beautiful. When we come to the table, let us remember our Lord and taste of grace. Let us hear Wisdom’s invitation—a summons to the wise and the seeking. May the table be light and warmth for our journey. Hear the Word of the Lord. Trust the Spirit’s leadership and know that Wisdom is calling you—to live with courage, with kindness, with grace.