The Wisdom of Being Wrong

Growing Daily

I was chatting with my son the other day when he paused and said, “Umm, Dad, I think you just used that word incorrectly.”

Now, Jon isn’t a grammar snob, so I assumed he was joking. But naturally, we Googled it... and sure enough, he was correct!

In that moment, I was a little humbled. Here I was, someone who's been writing for years, yet I was using a common word incorrectly and was completely unaware.

It was a simple moment, but it points to an important spiritual truth. Proverbs 1:5 says, "Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance."

Notice that verse isn't addressed to beginners. It's for the wise — people who have been around a while. They’re called to listen, learn, and seek guidance. Wisdom isn't a destination so much as a posture.

As we get older, it’s easy to think we have it all figured out. But true wisdom begins the moment we admit we still have more to learn.

- Ron Reid