no wisdom teeth should not mean no wisdom

Tonight I made the best batch of sweet iced tea I've made in a good while. You see, I work at a coffee shop and last week while my fellow barista was making a fresh batch of our phenomenal teas, my boss informed him that squeezing/wringing out the tea bags makes the tea bitter. I had never heard this before, but recently successful delicious sweet tea making has not made its home at our household. The tea always seemed to have a weird after taste. Now, I assume I know why...and tonight's tea was a refreshing success, much needed for the last night before school starts and to energize my much procrastinated China paper writing.

So, what wisdom can she pull out of this example, you ask?

Well, I got to thinking about how if my boss had never told me this fact, I would probably be destined to bitter tea at my house and continue to make tea incorrectly at work. What I should have done when I initially noticed that the tea was tasting bitter was to search out what was wrong and how to fix it...how would I do this? By asking someone with the knowledge on the issue. This is kind of like our spiritual lives in that we are always growing and attempting to get one step closer to that understanding and perfection that is Jesus Christ. Along the way, sometimes we get stuck in ruts and routines, and we may see negative consequences like people getting angry with us more often, marriage problems, children rebelling, etc. Maybe you have a question about a certain topic or decision you deliberating on...or perhaps the problems are not with humans at all, but you just feel stale in your faith. So you wonder--why am I like this, and what is the problem? Notice any similarities?...this is you at the drinking bitter tea stage. This is the point where you should step up and seek wisdom.

First choice would be praying about it--talk to God, the source of all wisdom and knowledge. Second, (which can happen in conjunction with the first or after the first) ask other Christan authorities, your elders/people with experience in your situation. There's no need to dwell in the bitter when a solution can be found...and it's our duty as Christians to do so.
Proverbs 12:15 tells us, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but who heeds counsel is wise."
Also, Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."
Proverbs is chock-full of reinforcing 'seek wisdom, seek wisdom, seek wisdom,' and the rewards that follow. Chapter 2:2-5 tells us, 'making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.'
Finally, Proverbs 3:15 describes wisdom (in this case in the female tense), 'she is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.'

So why aren't we seeking wisdom more--before the situation arises, while the situation is brewing, after a situation is over? Seek wisdom at all times. Seek the treasure and you will find it. None of us humans are perfect, but there are plenty of people with lifetimes of knowledge--gold mines--just waiting for you to dig, to ask, to give them the time to talk. The more counsel we seek, the more prepared we are to approach future situations in our own lives. It seems to me less bitter tea is a good thing--less bitter days of life are an even greater thing.

For those of you that have gained wisdom over the years, share! I'm not saying be boastful or rub your experience in other's faces, but rather use it to help youth and even those that aren't youth that may be younger than you. What have you learned? Plant a seed in someone's mind today that will be an investment for their future. For example, a couple I know recently adopted--they have learned soooo much in the process: the pros, the cons, what to watch for, what to do, etc. That is wisdom, and I know they share it.

So here's where you ask yourself--1)what problems do I have in my life? Have I prayed about it? Am I actually listening and willing to learn? Who might have the wisdom to teach me how to get out of it/fix it/prevent it in the future?
2)What wisdom do I have/situations have I been through that I can use to help others better their lives and further their walk with Christ? Who might need this wisdom? How do I best go about sharing it? Have I prayed about it?

So there you go. Don't wring your tea bags. Do brush your teeth twice a day. Don't read this and walk away and not apply it--having wasted at least 1 very valuable minute of your life. Do seek to help, and to help yourself.

Now go get 'em tiger (or cardinal, or volunteer, or whatever else you may be--so long as it's not that nasty wildcat stuff...ok just kidding, those too. we're all on a team here :))