Wisdom and Tact

I think wisdom and tact is something that I can always use more of in life. As the pressure turns up, passion increases, stress unfolds these two seem to often go by the wayside. See as I am learning more and more about myself these are definitely things I can work on. Instead of getting all worked up with life and letting my passion, frustration or others take flight immediately. I can step back take a deep breath and reevaluate the entire situation. See I used to laugh when I would see people as I would call it "shoot from the hip" my term for random knee jerk reactions. Yet as I am learning about myself I actually do this more than I could have imagined. I just do it in a different area of life and a little different way.
As I read Dan. 2 this morning it was a great reminder for my life.

14. When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15. He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16. At this Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

See Daniel didn't jump to defense, get all fired up, anxious or any other of the many things he could have done. Instead he spoke with "wisdom and tact" as he tried to understand the situation and then calmly went before the king and asked for time. Time, What a wise request. I guess I would have probably begged for more time also but what he did next I think is key. I couldn't imagine what I would do when faced with imminent death but when Daniel asked for time he then went to his friends to explain the situation and ask for prayer. He didn't face it alone he wanted the support of his friends in his community and the wisdom that only the Lord could grant.
Today this was just a great reminder for me to slow down, seek counsel, be patient and know that the wisdom that our Lord can grant is far surpassing any that I can ever come up with. I don't need to be hasty, harsh or urgent as that of King Nebuchadnezzar. Whom I think I am more apt these days to represent then Daniel. This is definitely a path that I don't want to continue down as don't want to become an animal grazing on all fours as he did as he kept down his path of destruction and didn't change his ways.
Change the only thing that is really constant in life.