Exploring Wisdom: At the Table
Welcome to the month of wisdom! At the Table questions from the Soul Matters “Soulful Home” resource explore the monthly theme through a discussion for all ages. They are designed for a family gathering – maybe during a Friday night meal, a quiet moment in the living room or before a board game night. If you would like to receive the entire booklet with more fun ways to explore wisdom with your family please contact Rev. Claudia at faithdev@uuasheville.org
INTRODUCING THE ACTIVITY
Family members who are readers can alternate who reads the questions. Those who are not readers are invited to share their own impromptu questions. Discussion partners might answer as thoughts come to them or take turns in a circle.
- Which animals do you think of as wise, and which do you think of as foolish? Why do you think you have those ideas?
- Would you rather be wise or friendly, if you had to choose just one?
- We often think of professors or ministers as wise, but other workers are also wise in not-always-noticed ways. In what ways might a daycare provider be wise? A carpenter? A guitar player? A farmer? A plumber? A construction worker? A salesperson?
- Do you think plants and trees have wisdom? If so, what might it be like? And how do you think they share it with other plants and animals? And us?!
- Are people born wise, or do they learn wisdom?
- How can you tell good advice from bad advice (in other words, what’s wisdom, and what’s not)?
- Whom do you think of as a really wise person among your family’s circle of friends?
- Do wise people go around saying how wise they are? (If not, how do you KNOW they’re wise?)
- Do you think it’s easy to live wisely? Why or why not?
- What’s the most “un-wise” thing that is happening in our world today?
- Is wisdom the same as knowing facts? How are they different?
- Is it ever wise to admit that you don’t know the answer?
- What is a wise thing you know today that you didn’t know a year ago?
- Have you ever heard a wise voice rise up from inside you?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how wise were you today? What did you do or not do that made you give yourself that score?
Ways to Return to the Discussion Throughout the Week
Thoughts develop with time. Find opportunities to bring up particularly compelling questions again during the month, maybe on walks, rides home, when tucking your child in to bed, etc. If thoughts grew or changed, notice that together, how we are all evolving beings, opening ourselves to new truths and understandings as we live our lives and connect with others.
SOURCE: Soulful Home