How about a Nice Pat on the Head

(Pro 23:9 KJV) Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

 I am wondering if this is one of those places in Proverbs where context applies.  This chapter has two different warnings against getting too excited about being invited to dinner.  There is a tendency to think that you might have something to say.  Picture being invited to a state dinner in the White House.  You would be surrounded by important people, or so you think.  You might ask yourself if they are more important than you or just invited for political payoff.

I don’t know how many meetings I went to as a teacher and we were told they wanted our “input”.  After they got it they went out and did what they had planned originally.  I remember when they were spending several million dollars of bond money to remodel the gym.  The PE coaches really got into it.  They went to every meeting and jumped through all the hoops.  I was told later that they got nothing they wanted.

So?  I guess we can share our ideas but don’t be surprised if all we get is a pat on the head.