Throwing Away Wisdom

I was throwing away a tea bag the other day, when I stopped myself.

I had just read a profound saying on the tea tag that said “When God made time, He made enough of it” which was attributed as a Celtic saying.

I always appreciate these pithy sayings on my tea bag tags. I’ve even considered pulling them off the used bag to save for later reading. You know, keeping some sort of tea tag board of wisdom or something like that.

But … the idea has never impacted me deeply enough to actually make me save the tea tags. Instead, I throw them away.

So, as I was throwing away this particularly pithy statement about time, I hesitated, stopped myself, and wondered what was actually happening.

Here I am, throwing away wisdom every time I have a cup of tea. Not just wise sayings, but actual statements culled from some of the greatest thinkers and traditions of all time from all parts of the world.

All of this wisdom has been gathered for my benefit and I am simply throwing it away.

My hesitation reminded me of the reality in which we live as 21st century North Americans. So much is disposable. Everything moves at break-neck speed. We are hurtling our way through life, literally leaving our path littered along the way.

We fail to recognize life, wisdom, and value because we don’t have time for it. We glance at things of import, and then throw it away.

So, as I hesitated with my squeezed-out tea bag held above the garbage can, I decided to break step a bit. I pulled off the tea tag and took it with me.

May we be the sort of people who break step in order to savor wisdom for the benefit of our own lives and the lives around us.