Artiste doue' (Gifted Artist)

I have thought long about this article, and all things keep coming back to the story of Job. When we first were preparing to go to Haiti, someone gave us a study guide of Job to bring for the youth. When we returned to the States, we learned one of the youth, Job, had passed away. So as I was sitting here pondering what to say about this image, Job again popped into my mind. I have just recently completed reading the book of Job for the second time. While I see the story so many see, which is the perseverance of faith by Job; there is another story that goes overlooked. The beginning of Job starts with a conversations between God and Satan. Satan goes before God and they discuss God's servant Job. This conversation occurs a couple of different times. Each time God says how there is no one else like Job. Satan then asks to prove God wrong by visiting Job with terrible trials. God agrees as long as Satan does not kill Job. This to me isn't the whole story of Job. I apologize if this sounds preachy, but as I continue to look around our world, I see a lack of understanding when it comes to cause and effect. When we were created we were given the freedom of choice, what we obtained in the Garden of Eden was the knowledge or good and evil. Each choice we make has a consequence. Several times in Proverbs Solomon talks about the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Solomon doesn't say fear of God equals wisdom, but begins to teach us wisdom. For me, this symbolizes the making of choices to benefit others, not just myself. As children we are taught to fear the consequences of not doing what I parents say. Those words are designed to keep us from hurting ourselves. Later, as we grow older, that fear is replaced with love and respect for our parents and the lessons they taught us. We also replace fear with a desire to make our parents proud. So we begin with our fear of God and grow to our love and desire to make God proud. As I approach moving from fear to love and desire a miraculous thing happened. I began to want to do good and help others, not out a selfish desire to earn God's favor, but because it is the right thing to do. Now that I have taken the long way around to my point. The first part of Job shows me a lesson of God teaching Satan. Look at my servant Job, there is none like him. Job was one who matured in wisdom and God wanted to show Satan what that maturity looked like. Satan still being consumed by selfish needs for approval and power sought to destroy Job. So, how does this all come together? I have asked Walnes a question. If you could have one prayer answered, what would it be? Perhaps when he answers, the answer will be for wisdom as he and the others at St. Joseph's already have the strength of Job.

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