Proverbs 26:11, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.”
The 26th Proverb is a great lesson about fools and the 11th verse is a translation of one of my favorite quotes, “the definition of insanity is doing things the same way and expecting different results.”
I don’t know about you, but foolishness and foolish behavior are but a day or two away from becoming a way of life for me. I’ve been there, done it and have the chemical dependency center T-shirt to remind me of that fact.Â
If I’m not doing what I need to do to make sure my thinking and subsequent actions are aligned with God then I become foolish pretty quickly.  For me it is important to avoid people, places and things that are foolish and draw close to people, places and things that are divine and right.
Who you hang with, who you follow, who you listen to and who you seek wisdom from will all play a part in whether or not you avoid foolishness or not. Hanging with, following, listening to and seeking wisdom from God is the best way to avoid foolish behavior.
What you put in your mind (i.e. books, internet, TV) will have an impact on whether or not you become a fool.
Where you hang out will have an impact on whether or not you become a fool.
How you treat your body through nutrition, rest and exercise will have an impact on whether or not you become a fool.
But the real key is to define your “vomit” and know what is foolish and what is not, so you will be able to quit acting like a dog (which has no clue) and quit returning to your old foolish thoughts and actions (i.e. vomit). The 12 Steps have helped many of us define our “vomit” over the years.Â
P.E.A.C.E
P.S. For a great introduction to the 12 Steps purchase “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions” by Alcoholics Anonymous and focus on the Twelve Steps. While reading about the 12 Steps, substitute the word alcohol with whatever area of brokenness you are dealing with.
