How to Be a Person that Shares More Wisdom Than Advice

One of my friends recently told me about a time when she was fragile and desperate, when everything was hard and nothing tasted right. During this time, she carried a little cross everywhere as a way to remind herself God was present, even in the fog.Then she lost the cross. She tore apart her living room, but it was gone. She was broken & bereft. Then suddenly, laughter came. Loud bursts of laughter like sprinklers on green grass. She realized she didn’t need the cross. It had never been about that little cross. The cross just reminded her of a reality that existed – that God was with her – whether she had the cross in her pocket or not.Losing the cross had helped her just as much as carrying the cross.Bursting with this new reality, jubilant and exploding with hope, let’s imagine she came across another friend who was also ragged and desperate. This friend had also carried a cross, to help her remember God was with her, even in the fog. And she had also lost it. She looked up and asked, “Will you help me find it?”So what would you do, if you were my friend? With your new wisdom, and your new hope? What would you say?Because my friend is wise, and because everyone is on a unique journey of losing and finding, let’s imagine she didn’t say anything. Let’s imagine she got down on her hands and knees and helped her friend look for that cross.There is a time for advice.But there is also a time to simply respond to the request of a friend, and travel with them on their journey, rather than drag them along on yours.Let’s imagine together what it means to be a wise friend who helps others find what they need to find.