King's Philosophy Wine and Cheese Speech

Written and delivered Wed. March 26, 2008
At King's University College at the University of Western Ontario

I've been here for five years, believe it or not.
Occasionally I ask what I can do with the understanding that I've developed in this place. Understanding, I say, since it would be misleading to say knowledge or to say wisdom.
Here's why I think so. To me, knowledge is a matter of becoming familiar with certain concepts and ideas through an examination of the world around us. Wisdom, on the other hand, is not a matter of examination, not a matter of observation, but a matter of action.
Wisdom is not gained through reading books.
This is probably one of the most important things I have learned here—and it took five years and a lot of reading to figure it out.
I say understanding because I see Kings' Gift to us as a combination of knowledge and wisdom, a matter of observation and action.
I say understanding because King's has shaped the ground on which we now stand—upon which we will forge our paths in life.
I say understanding because I finally—after all this time— feel like I finally understand a little bit of what it means to struggle—and to finally succeed.
At whatever point you are at on your path, I pray that these brief words will help you find some answers to just what you can do with the things you have learned in this place. I pray that King's will continue to have an impact on the way you live your life.
Finally, and this doesn't seem like too much to ask, I pray simply that our paths cross and we meet again to enjoy drinks and words...

TO KING'S, TO THE LOVE OF WISDOM, AND TO US...
CHEERS!!!

JB