Dear Prudence…

Prudence means practical common sense, taking the trouble to think out what you are doing and what is likely to come of it. Nowadays most people hardly think of Prudence as one of the ‘virtues’. In fact, because Christ said we could only get into His world by being like children, many Christians have the idea that, provided you are ‘good,’ it does not matter being a fool. But that is a misunderstanding. In the first place, most children show plenty of ‘prudence’ about doing the things they are really interested in, and think them out quite sensibly. In the second place, as St Paul points out, Christ never meant that we were to remain children in intelligence: on the contrary. He told us to be not only ‘as harmless as doves.’ but also ‘as wise as serpents’. He wants a child’s heart, but a grown-up’s head. He wants us to be simple, single-minded, affectionate, and teachable, as good children are; but He also wants every bit of intelligence we have to be alert at its job, and in first-class fighting trim. The fact that you are giving money to a charity does not mean that you need not try to find out whether that charity is a fraud or not. The fact that what you are thinking about is God Himself (for example, when you are praying) does not mean that you can be content with the same babyish ideas which you had when you were a five-year-old. It is, of course, quite true that God will not love you any the less, or have less use for you, if you happen to have been born with a very second-rate brain. He has room for people with very little sense, but He wants every one to use what sense they have. The proper motto is not ‘Be good, sweet maid, and let who can be clever,’ but ‘Be good, sweet maid, and don’t forget that this involves being as clever as you can.’ God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than of any other slackers. If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains and all. But, fortunately, it works the other way round. Anyone who is honestly trying to be a Christian will soon find his intelligence being sharpened: one of the reasons why it needs no special education to be a Christian is that Christianity is an education itself. That is why an uneducated believer like Bunyan was able to write a book that has astonished the whole world.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

We’re talking about the virtue of Prudence here, not the Beatles tune (obviously). A post on Satchel Pooch’s blog, as well as another over at Caffeinated Thoughts combined to remind me to look this passage up, and between these and a conversation my wife and I had over dinner tonight - bam! Instant post article.

Most of the folks I see and talk with on a daily basis at the airport are pretty convinced that common sense, whether practical or not, is something just not practiced, taught, or learned nowadays. The examples that usually rise to the top in our work setting are of the “no, ma’am, a 24 oz. bottle of Mary Kay whatever is not acceptable as a part of your carry-on luggage”,“no sir, we’re sorry, but your military-size duffle bag is too big to fit in an overhead compartment or under the seat (never mind too heavy at 62 lbs.!), and I’m sure sorry that you’ll have to pay $15.00 to check the bag”… you get the picture. People - most of them otherwise bright, intelligent and capable - often seem to turn off the brain when ready to travel. We know that isn’t really what happens, but when you experience a phenomena often enough, you begin to wonder.

Another aspect of the description Lewis gives is also often overlooked in the world - taking the time to think out what you are doing and what is likely to come of it. As is so often the case, we have a term that seems apropos - a law, actually. Michael Crichton made a fair living off of books written around what happens when it is invoked. I speak here of the Law of Unintended Consequences (some would try to substitute Murphy’s Law here, but, as I claim Irish descent, I prefer to put the blame on all potential  lawbreakers regardless of ethnicity). In one of his last books, NEXT, he wrote something at once funny and frightening. Funny, because some of the characters and situations he created out of his research are just that - funny. Frightening? First read the book, then see what you think of this modest proposal in light of your new perspective.

Related posts:

1. Falalalalalalalala
2. Who’s in charge here?
3. In the Crosshairs
4. Getting Around To Getting It
5. What’s in YOUR values?

Tags: Christ, Christianity, Humor, Religion and Spirituality, Work