The Life and Times of Patrick Eugene Scott

Indiucky Some years ago a friend of mine forwarded this following letter on to me. I do recall my friend sharing this with me so I could share it with my future generations. It has been on my hard drive long enough, so I'm blowing the cyber dust off and sharing these tender words with you for your consideration. The letter reads as follows.

 

The Life and Times of Patrick Eugene Scott

(Yet to be determined)

It is a cool Spring morning, the sun is shining bright and the new leaves slightly sway in the breeze. The date is March 13, 2083. All of your dear friends and family are here to celebrate your 100th birthday. Looking back over your life, you ask yourself, giving another chance at life, would I do anything differently? What is the root cause for the mistakes I made? Why did I spend my life in this town and at that job? Why did I marry my wife? Why do I live in this neighborhood? Who are these people staring at me? Haven't they ever seen an old man before? Why are they my friends and family anyway? It has been a long journey and I can't even remember how I got here or what I set out to accomplish. Surely I didn't just sit idly by and let life happen. I am sure that at sometime in my life I had a plan. What was that plan and how did I develop it?

 

Patrick,

 

Now is the time for you to develop a plan for the life and times of Patrick Eugene Scott. No one else can do it for you and no one else can ensure that you stick to your plan. You must be very honest with yourself. It is time for you to identify your talents and determine the resources at you disposal. Then your must construct a plan that will help you reach your potential. Anything short of this will ensure that, on your 100th birthday, you will be asking yourself, "What if?" A plan is only as good as the execution of it. Since this is your plan you must own it and not let anyone distract you from your goals. After your plan is complete, your mindset must be fixed on the future. Remain in control of your actions and stay focused on your plan. If your actions are motivated by the here and now, it is time to mature and realize that when you were a child you thought like a child and acted like a child. You must now think like a man and act like a man. That means that you must see beyond what you want right now and determine the impact your choice will have on your plan and your future. It is crucial that you realize that life is filled with decisions and each decision carries with it certain consequences. Make sure that the actions you take produce enjoyable consequences. You will live with the consequences of your decisions, be they good are bad.

Take the time now to develop your plan and promise yourself that you will stick to it throughout your life. Here is a good exercise that you may want to try when developing your plan. Fast forward your life to the character in my first paragraph. Giving a chance at the end of your life, what advice might you give to the young Patrick Eugene Scott? Think about it long and hard, then write it into your plan. As I said earlier, no one else can write your plan for you and NEVER LET THEM TRY. I have no intentions of giving you any advice of my own. You see, I feel a lot like the man in the first paragraph. In the past, I lived for the here and now. Trust me when I say, there is no future in it. I am not a qualified advisor and have no intentions on ever being one. However, you and I do know of King Solomon, the wisest man that has ever lived or ever will live. He was a great advisor and his writings have been preserved for us to study today. If ever a man lived life to the fullest, King Solomon is that man. I highly recommend that you study Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. You will gain wisdom from them and this wisdom will help you develop a successful plan for your life. At the time he wrote these books he had no idea that there would ever be a Patrick Eugene Scott, but he did write with guys like you and I in mind.

What makes Solomon qualified to write a book on wisdom? Let's quickly cover some history.

1 Chronicles 22
David Prepares to Build the Temple and Reveals Wisdom's Origin

5Now David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it." So David made abundant preparations before his death.
6Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. 7And David said to Solomon: "My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the LORD my God; 8but the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. 9Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.' 11Now, my son, may the LORD be with you; and may you prosper, and build the house of the LORD your God, as He has said to you. 12Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. 13Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the LORD charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed.

2 Chronicles 1
Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom

6And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?"
8And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"
11Then God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life--but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king-- 12wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."

1 Kings 4

Prosperity and Wisdom of Solomon's Reign

29And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. 30Thus Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31For he was wiser than all men--than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. 33Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. 34And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

Now that we have studied the history of King Solomon, let's look to some of his writings to gain the wisdom we need to make the right choices in life. Here are a few passages to help you get started with your study of the writings of King Solomon:

Proverbs 1
Proverbs The Beginning of Knowledge

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
        2To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,
        3To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;
        4To give prudence to the simple,To the young man knowledge and discretion--
        5A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
        6To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.
        7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 8
The Excellence of Wisdom

Wisdom Is Everlasting

1 Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?
        2She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet.
        3She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors:
        4"To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.
        5O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
        6Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
        7For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
        8All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
        9They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.
        10Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold;
        11For wisdom is better than rubies,
        And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
        12"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion.
        13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way
        And the perverse mouth I hate.
        14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.
        15By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
        16By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.
        17I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.
        18Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.
        19My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.
        20I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,
        21That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.
        22"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.
        23I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
        24When there were no depths I was brought forth,
        When there were no fountains abounding with water.
        25Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth;
        26While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world.
        27When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
        28When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
        29When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command,
        When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
        30Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight,
        Rejoicing always before Him,
        31Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.
        32"Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
        33Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.
        34Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates,
        Waiting at the posts of my doors.
        35For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD;
        36But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death."

Proverbs 9
The Way of Wisdom
        7"He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
        And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
        8Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;  Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
        9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
        Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
        10"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
        And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
        11For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.
        12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,  And if you scoff, you will bear it alone."

Ecclesiastes 2
The Futility of Pleasure and Wealth

9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labor.

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 12
Conclusion of the Whole Matter

1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

 

13 Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Why look to Solomon for advice?

  • In 1 Chronicles 22 David tells Solomon that wisdom comes from the Lord.
    12    Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.
  • In 2 Chronicles 1 God appeared to Solomon at night and said "Ask! What shall I give you?" And Solomon replied 10Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"
  • In 1 Kings 4 : 29And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. 30Thus Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31For he was wiser than all men.
  • Solomon is the author of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. So the wisest man that ever lived has left us part of his knowledge. This knowledge was given to him by the One who created man in the first place.

Take King Solomon's advice and weave it into your plan. Then live each day by your plan. The degree with which you execute your plan will determine the number of "What if?" questions you will ask yourself on March 13, 2083 and if you will spend eternity with the One who gave King Solomon this great wisdom.

 

May God bless you and keep you in his care.

Contributors: Patrick's father; Indiucky