The Wise, The Foolish, The Evil

I am reading a book called Necessary Endings, by Dr. Henry Cloud.  Primarily written for business people, the book gives insights about when it is time to end a project, a relationship, or a business.  Most people, it seems, will hang onto endeavors that no longer work -- or that never worked -- in the hope that things will eventually get better.

In one of the chapters, Cloud writes that there are only 3 types of people: the wise, the foolish, and the evil.  The wise person is the one who, given the understanding that he has gone off course in some way, will correct his action or direction if given the opportunity, the resources, and the support or encouragement to do so.

The foolish person refuses to correct his/her behavior because it was never his/her fault; someone else is always to blame.  No amount of pointing out what happened; no amount of providing resources and opportunity; no amount of encouragement will persuade the foolish person to make a change.  He refuses to take responsibility, to apologize, or to change his course of action.

The evil person has no desire to change because he or she actually enjoys creating chaos or hurting others.  This person will sabotage whatever project is on the table, just for the pleasure of causing trouble or for being obstinate.

All three of these types may have the same past; they may have made the same mistakes and even caused the same pain to others.  But their futures are vastly different.  Cloud points out that you have to realize what type of person you are dealing with before deciding to end a relationship or business endeavor.   One of his telling markers is the question, "Do I still want to be having this same conversation two years from now?

We have just celebrated the feastday of St. Mary Magdalene.  According to the Gospel, Jesus cast 7 demons out of her.  We do not know if she was the same Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, who sat at his feet listening to him, but we do know that she was one of the 3 Marys at the foot of the cross.  We know that she went to the tomb early Sunday morning to mourn the loss of Jesus, whom she loved beyond all telling.  We do know that she was the first to see the Risen Lord and to tell the Apostles that He was risen from the dead.

Mary was a wise woman, no matter what she lived in the past.  In her gratitude for being freed from 7 demons, she never left Jesus.  I find such comfort in her wisdom.  Jesus gave her the opportunity to be different; he provided the strength, the resources, and the encouragement she needed to change.  He cannot do less for any one of us.  The only question is whether we will recognize the provision He gives or continue in our foolishness because it's not really our fault, after all.