Dr. Arthur Kornhaber, expert and frequent speaker on grandparenting and the power of the grandparent-grandchild relationship, says, "When you're 15 you think you know everything. When you're 40 you think you know everything. When you're 75 you realize you don't know anything. That's why grandparents get along so well with babies."

I'm not 75, but it only takes a few crises in your life to learn how little you know. The birth of a child. The discovery of love. A failed relationship. The end of a career. The death of a loved one. These kinds of experiences that can generate feelings we didn't know we could have, and can change our view of the world. These experiences can leave us confused.

Today's first reading from the book of Wisdom tells us: "I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her." When you get to the point in your life where you discover that you don't know anything, you begin to crave and value wisdom more than you crave and value money or success.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus meets a man who thinks he knows everything. When Jesus tells the man that the secret to salvation is following the Ten Commandments, the man says "Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."

"You are lacking in one thing," Jesus responds. "Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

This is not what the man wanted to hear. "At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions."

When we are young and strong, we think we know everything. We think that we possess all that we need. When we are weak and frail, we know we need help. We know that treasure in heaven is more valuable than gold, and we know that wisdom is more valuable than "scepter or throne."

In 12-step programs, we are urged to pray "only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out." This is a far cry from my usual prayers, where I have a laundry list of things that I believe I need in order to be happy. I think I know what I need. The 12 steps suggest we ought to pray for wisdom and knowledge --- the faith and strength to accept any circumstances --- not merely for the specific circumstances we desire.

It is one thing to know that wisdom is more valuable than power and success. It is another thing to live as if this is true. When we are successful, we tend to become overly confident. "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!," Jesus tells his followers. "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

The disciples are shocked --- aren't the strong and the mighty to be admired and emulated? "Who can be saved?" they ask. "With human beings it is impossible," Jesus answers, "but not with God."

With wisdom comes humility. Or, with humility comes wisdom. Clearly, they are connected. We must get to the point where we understand that we cannot save ourselves, and that success in this world has little bearing on our status in the eyes of God. We can plead for the spirit of wisdom, and hope to God we receive that priceless gift. With God all things are possible.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.