Prudence

Prudence. 

"The ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason; skill and good judgement in the use of resources, caution or circumspection as to danger or risk."

Whenever I hear the word prudence I can't help but to think back to an old SNL skit where Dana Carvey, imitating George H.W. Bush, would say, "Wouldn't be prudent." It always got a good laugh, but I'm not sure I could have told you exactly what it meant. 

Today as I think about being prudent I think it has to do with taking the time to investigate the information needed before making a decision. In addition, understanding that actions have consequences will help you to be a more prudent person. 

As I thought about the state of affairs today in things like politics and social media it became apparent that prudence is a lost virtue. Often times the person yelling the loudest has done the least amount of research into what they proclaim to be true. 

We have allowed passion, and anger to get in the way of true judgement. Rather than gathering information from both sides of an issue, we lash out at others who think differently than us, and refuse to listen to the other side. 

Instead of checking sources we deem everything we read on social media to be true. Both sides of the argument have been guilty of selective editing when it comes to getting their point of view across. Numbers can be very misleading just in the way they are presented, and can be manipulated to prove a point. 

Remembering that our actions have consequences should guide us to be more careful in what we say and do. Thinking ahead, and preparing for the future are also other ways of practicing prudence. 

Not just accepting something on face value can protect you from scams, and identity theft. The virtue of prudence requires true critical thinking.  Don't be so quick to act or cast judgement before you've taken the time to check things out. 

"Prudence is foresight and farsightedness. It's the ability to make immediate decisions on the basis of their longer-range effects."

John Ortberg