O Sapientia [Oh Wisdom!]

The following is a poem attributed to Malcom Guite.

I cannot think unless I have been thought,

Nor can I speak unless I have been spoken,

I cannot teach except as I am taught,

Or break the bread except as I am broken.

O mind behind the mind through which I seek,

O word beneath the words with which I speak,

O founding, unfound Wisdom, finding Me,

O sounding song whose depth is sounding me,

O memory of time, reminding me,

My ground of being, always grounding me.

My maker’s bounding line, defining me,

Come hidden Wisdom

Come with All you bring,

Come to me now, disguised as everything.

Sapientia is a Latin noun that directly translates to wisdom. 

Wisdom: Beyond simple knowledge, it implies good judgment, discernment, and the ability to apply reason to life’s deeper questions.  It is often seen as the goal of a philosopher or a Stoic virtue. Wisdom is a component of maturation.

Judgment & Discernment: The practical ability to make sound choices and possess good sense.

Understanding & Reason: The cognitive capacity to comprehend the best, most extreme, final, or most fundamental meanings and truths.

Knowledge: The awareness, understanding, or skill acquired through experience, study, or investigation.  It represents the body of facts, information, and practical “know-how” that we use to comprehend the world and solve problems.