STUPID

STUPID – we could reasonably state that being stupid or doing stupid things is a lack of intelligence.  A person who has not developed the skill of self control is stupid or maybe we could say that a stupid person has little self control.

When smart people do stupid things they may not be so smart after all.  Why do we think they are smart?  As a general rule, we define a smart person as one who has high IQ or is talented. We may think they are smart if they are articulate or have a great personality or any combination of the above.  It may be that they have the ability to make others think they are smart or that they have been told or convinced they are smart.

Some are tall, dark and handsome therefore …

Others have athletic or musical skills, therefore they have come to think they are elite.  Still others have been promoted to places of prominence and have come to think of themselves as a cut above.

Tucker Carlson wrote in his book, “Ship of Fools,” “The path to the American elite has been well marked for decades: Perform well on standardized tests, win admission to an elite school, enter one of a handful of elite professions, settle in a handful of elite zip codes, marry a fellow elite, and reproduce.” (pg. 14)

Many of the foregoing will do stupid things because they haven’t developed the cognitive ability of decision-making.  The emotional, intellectual and maturity factor have not interfaced.

There was a guy who went to a Christian college. For some reason he got the reputation of belonging to that envied “upper” crowd.  Since it was necessary to have an “uppity” girl friend, he  sought one out. She hung out with a few other “uppitytight” kids because her Daddy was some kind of big-shot. For all practical purposes the lower kids were not allowed to look them in the eye.

As a senior, he was chosen to be in the chosen few to receive honors.  However, he was caught with his “uppity” girlfriend in a compromising situation in the backseat of her car. It really didn’t matter because he was now securely ensconced in the elite club. The escape from punishment served only to reinforce his conviction that he was exceptional and deserved to be there.

From there he wiggled his way into an elite school of higher learning where he wormed his way into politics. From there he was led to believe he was something special, that is, until he ran for President of the United States.  It was there that he did something stupid by challenging the media to follow him around if they didn’t believe him.  They did. They caught him on a boat “monkeying” around. His stupidity did him in!

He may have been smart – I don’t know. He may have been a Christian or a “political” Christian or leaned that way.  As Johnny Mathis sang, “Its not for me to say.”  After all those years of preparation… down the toilet!

The future Apostle Peter was a great man and future Bishop of Rome, but he cut a guy’s ear off shortly before the greatest event in history took place. Was he  Christian?  Yes!  Was he stupid. Yes!

Have I done stupid things?  YES!

Have you done stupid things? YES!

Can we overcome our stupidities?

YES!

Is life worth living after the embarrassment of our screwups?

YES, IF WE SURRENDER AND NEVER GIVE UP!

“My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

“On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;

all other ground is sinking sand,

all other ground is sinking sand.”

(Edward Mote)