Erik Van Alstine

Erik Van Alstine

Author. Leadership strategist. Expert in Perceptual IntelligenceTM.

The Waiter, The Later, and The Hater

Are we headed for success or failure? According to Solomon, it could depend on our attitude toward “wisdom.”

Wisdom, described by Solomon as a female artisan, tells us there are three attitudes we can take toward her. To help us remember, I’ll call each person with each attitude “The Waiter,” “The Later,” and “The Hater.”

Here’s “Lady Wisdom” describing these three types of people from the book of Proverbs:

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”1

The Waiter

The first attitude toward wisdom is “The Waiter.” Waiters are those who “wait at wisdom’s door.” They want wisdom. A lot. They make wisdom top priority. They set aside time. They listen and learn. They observe self and life to understand and improve. They’re not casual seekers. They’re intense.

What is The Waiter’s reward? Success. They flourish in life and work.

 
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The Later

The second attitude is “The Later,” meaning, the one who puts off learning for later and fails to find wisdom. After years observing people, I believe most fit this category. So many of us go casual through life. We’re more interested in leisure and trivia than wisdom.

What is The Later’s reward? Self-harm. “Those who fail to find me harm themselves,” says Wisdom. There’s no neutral ground with this lady. We’re either for her or against her. What we think is a neutral, passive attitude is far from neutral. It is self-harm. Ignorance isn’t bliss. Doing nothing isn’t nothing. It’s destruction of the things we could be, do, and have.

The Hater

Then finally, there’s the third attitude, “The Hater.” Haters are those who reject wisdom. They don’t just ignore wisdom. They despise it. They don’t want anyone telling them what to do. They forsake feedback. They resent correction. They refuse to learn any way but the hard way, and don’t learn much that way either.

What is The Hater’s reward? Death. “All who hate me,” says Wisdom, “love death.” The Hater plunges past self-harm into self-destruction.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where Laters and Haters are common, and Waiters rare. But it doesn’t have to be. We can change our attitude toward wisdom. We can stop Lating and Hating…and start Waiting.

1Proverbs 8:33-35 (NIV)

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