Fool’s Signature
Audio / Produced by The High CallingTranscript
Around the time of the U.S. Civil War, Henry Ward Beecher was a Congregational minister. Like his famous sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe—author of Uncle Tom's Cabin—Beecher was an ardent campaigner against slavery.
Arriving at his Brooklyn church one Sunday, Beecher received a letter to him that contained just one word: "Fool."
During his sermon that morning, he told his congregation about the short letter and said, "I have known cases of a man writing a letter and forgetting to sign his name, but this man signed his name and forgot to write the letter."
This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. Reverend Beecher was right. A fool throws insults at what he's against. The wise person pours energy into what he is for. It's the high calling of our daily work.
A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.