There is a tree in town situated on Plainfield Avenue near the train station. About six feet off the ground is a sign that most probably have not noticed. The sign reads “The Tree of Wisdom.” On Memorial Day, the story was related to me that there used to be a lawn where the parking lot is now. A number of men: Johnny Delia, Louie Zichich (may they rest in peace), Vincent Zichich, Anthony Calleo and Anthony Perrillo gathered under that tree from the time they were teenagers. They continued to gather there on Saturdays and Sundays even after they married.  One day the sign appeared, I suppose, to characterize what at least one person thought was going on with this group of boys turned men, and the tree.

This story reminds me again of the prayer from Reinhold Neibuhr: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. The story of the tree also reminds me that wisdom is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that descended on that ordinary crowd of people gathered in that upper room after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus to his Father.

WISDOM: it’s not just the capacity to differentiate between situations I can and cannot change. Wisdom is a gift that often comes from learning from experience. Wisdom can be the ability to listen to that inner voice (the Holy Spirit) that says ‘don’t react to this person’s anger: they are in pain.’ Again to listen to the inner voice that says: ‘it’s more important to show up and support this person with your presence than to give advice which they aren’t going to listen to anyway.’  The inner voice, the Holy Spirit, if we give ourselves time to hear it, to heed it, to act on it, will not let us down. It’s not just the Apostles and our Mother Mary who were wise. Maybe these guys who hung out under the tree near the train station knew something: take time to stop, to listen, to be. Maybe we should all hang out by the Tree of Wisdom. 

Fr. Andy Prachar