Dorthy Day Wisdom In Action

“I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.” — Dorothy Day, 1952

These words of Wisdom from Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, came to me today via an email from a friend in Holland. So often I found myself reacting to words others say, and too often I hope that people will judge me by my actions, not my words.

Wisdom, “Sophia” in the Bible, is hard to find yet is everywhere. Today some friends asked me to be with their daughter Sophia part of the day since she was sick and home from school. This was an easy task since my young friend, Sophie as she has called, enjoys, as I do, watching the TV series ‘Spongebob Squarepants’. I had just recorded four new episodes that we watched together. A young child like Sophie can find wisdom even in a silly cartoon show like Spongebob.

Like the wind, wisdom is something we can feel if not see. “She is the breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty……she renews the world.” (Book of Wisdom 7:25–27)

This spring, this Lenten season of repentance, is a time of renewal. Perennial flowers are rising up from the ground. We can all learn from the wisdom of Dorothy Day to disregard talk and judge action.

Nature uses no words but can be judged by actions. People use lots of words, and are often judged by what they say not what they do. Yet listening to breath of God, Mother Wisdom, we want to be judged by our actions. Wisdom is found in Action.

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