Wisdom from the Creek

Back in the Day

When I was a young man, and God knows that it has been many seasons past, and I think the Divine One for this tenure every day. Nevertheless, I often questioned the intelligence of old people. Many made statements that did not conform with my school teachings. I dismissed them right away. Sometimes it is painful for me when I reflect upon some things that were said even by my father. Some talked about things like Black Wall Street in Tulsa Oklahoma, and many other things that I have found to be credible eons later.

Intelligence is Good

I applaud young people for obtaining knowledge, or intelligence for which I have discovered to be one in the same. Nonetheless, I have also found that intelligence is not wisdom. Just look at some of the people that are now leading our country. Many of them attended pristine colleges and universities. Many came from very wealthy, and affluent families, but most are not very wise. They have tethered themselves to a reality created by themselves, or their ancestors. Some are “dumb as a rock” as it has been so eloquently stated. Some of us believe that we are created in the image of God. Others attempt to create God in their images. It is very sad to see.

Wisdom is Greater

I was raised in a small coal-mining town in West Virginia, on Cabin Creek, called Carbon. Few people know about Carbon. When I first joined the Marine Corps, I noticed that other Marines would stretch the truth about their hometowns. If they lived in Lincoln Illinois, they would say that they were from Chicago, etc. When I was asked about my hometown, I would proudly say Carbon. They all would laugh at me, and I was much too naive for me to understand why they were laughing. Once I understood why they were laughing, it made me even more proud. By this time, I had left the Marine Corps and was living in Los Angeles, proper. When I moved to Hollywood, I truly understood the value of truth, as everyone seemed to pretend that they were something other than what they were. I did not insult them. I would simply go with the flow, but I could only view them as plastic people at that time. At that moment, I then understood why a person from Carbon would not miss the opportunity to shout it out loud. I'm from Carbon! We told the truth.This is how we rolled in that place. It was difficult to deceive us by lying.

Some in West Virginia, however, have been deceived in recent times. These are the new West Virginians. I'm happy to see that many of them are now awakening to the smell of the coffee as we have always done for eons from Carbon. I knew that it would be just a matter of time. We have always kept it very real!

Divine Wisdom in Keeping it Real

A coal-field mentality has enabled me to do great things in my life. I understand, however, that many things that I have done can be easily overlooked by the untutored eye. I admit that they are certainly meaningless to others. I am good with this.  I can declare that for most of my life I have been able to keep it real, nonetheless.  Taking our current environment into consideration, I can say that I am proud of myself.  Being the son of a coal miner, it is difficult to deceive me, and has provided me with wisdom, despite all of the intelligence that constantly surrounds me. This is why I am not convinced by “artificial” intelligence, or AI. I have better sense than that.

I’m just saying…