Wisdom vs. Intelligence and what it means to me

I haven't been feeling very well physically and emotionally off and on for quite some time. I began having chest pains that caused some major concern and so off to the emergency room I went. After x-rays and a discussion with the ER doctor he concluded I was depressed. Depressed? But I had never been happier I thought. Happily married, happy to be the mother of a boy and a girl, happy to have been able to quit my job a year earlier to be home with my kids, etc. So why was I having these anxiety attacks (chest pains)? I saw my primary doctor and she said I was possibly peri-menopausal and ordered extensive lab work to be done. She suggested I take hormones. Peri-menopausal? Really? Well, I decided to try the natural way to good health before trying out hormones first. With my husband's support I contacted the best company I knew of that had helped many people with health problems and disease through a vegan diet and supplements. I called the main office of Hallelujah Acres (www.hacres.com) and they gave me the number to a gentleman in my area that sold the supplements and had also gone through extensive training from the company on the vegan life style and health issues many people face. I was intrigued by his story. He is currently 90 years old and had much better clarity of mind and more energy than I did at 48! He shared his story of how he left behind his favorite foods such as steaks, burgers and hot dogs right off the grill, once he learned he had prostrate cancer at the age of 74. That was enough incentive for him to pursue a vegan lifestyle with additional vitamins and supplements. He studied and researched everything he could on the subject and eventually he discovered Hallelujah Acres and could closely relate to the story shared by the founder who had reversed colon cancer within himself. My new friend Ben reversed prostrate cancer within his own body and has now shared his knowledge with me. I eagerly met him in person and ordered many supplements and went on the diet. After one or two days of amazing energy and feeling so much better and no longer forgetting everything I needed to remember, I hit a wall. I was in pain all over, had headaches and was exhausted. All I could think of was how badly I wanted to eat cherry cobbler, ice cream and pasta. Lots of it. I succumbed to this great temptation and then felt like a terrible failure. Thankfully, while I was still too discouraged to even change out of my pajamas and robe, my new friend, Ben, the 90 year old vegan, called me to check on me. God is good. As we talked, I tearfully shared my frustration and sadness at feeling like such a failure and he encouraged me to pray and ask God for help. Why had I not thought of that? It's been a long time since I had prayed for myself. I had prayed for others many times. I had even thanked God most days as I got out of bed for my family, home and blessings. But to ask him for help? I can't remember when I did that last...it does sound kind of ridiculous doesn't it?
We continued talking about God and Jesus and how we need not feel ashamed of failing because we are human. He also expressed his concern that I was influenced by negative spirits that do want us to fail. I then presented him with a few questions I had about Jesus and the Christian beliefs that even though I claim to believe in, I had 'issue' with some of the teachings and especially how some Christians behaved. He replied honestly that I had very good questions and felt he should refer me to a friend of his who had a degree in Theology as well as was a Doctor. This doctor had originally been a primary care physician doctor for many years however, wanted a change and then became the head of the Depression Department for the same Health Care provider I belonged to! A few hours later he called me explaining his friend (and now also my friend) had referred him and proceeded to share with me the results of the extensive lab work I had done a few days earlier. I was in perfect health! Well, that was a relief, but what could be the reason for my fatigue? Difficulty sleeping? Anxiety attacks? Could it be more spiritual in nature than it was physical? Well, I had already asked God for help with my vegan diet and was already experiencing and easier go at it. So when this doctor called I was ready for the next discussion that took place. We both had theology degrees and even though I no longer regularly attended a Christian church, I had spent many years looking for one. I explained this to him. I assumed because one church did not allow women to become ordained ministers, that most others would not as well. I assumed if one church did not baptize and welcome homosexuals as members in their church others did not as well. We talked for a long time and I came away hopeful. I will visit his church knowing that it still is full of imperfect humans just as myself that still fail, however, understand better now that as long as we don't give up, as long as we keep trying to live the best we know how with God's help we will receive strength through the Holy Spirit. As long as we know we are forgiven because His son Jesus made that possible, then we are blessed with WISDOM as result of the suffering, as result of the failures. We all have access to INTELLIGENCE, however, we are greatly blessed with WISDOM if we continue to ask God for help when we fall (don't forget!) and then ask Him to pick us up. There is something to be said for those who know what it's like to have a problem and then successfully overcome it, as opposed to those who only have book knowledge about the topic. Which person are you going to feel more comfortable with and are more likely to ask for advice? Which one gives you more hope? I hope those who are reading this are as blessed as I have been when asking for counsel and advice related to a difficult problem or health issue they might be facing. I hope that whether it be your health, your finances or your relationships that you find someone to talk to that will remember to remind you to ask God for help! I have learned that this is the most important and valuable thing you can do for yourself during difficult times. Failures give us experience and that in turns provides us with knowledge, however, we are truly blessed when after we look to God for help and when He answers we finally arrive at WISDOM. I usually end my blog with 'we are here to live and learn and witness one another heal', however, I now rephrase my motto for life to now state:
We are all here live and learn and PRAY that one another heal!