How do you teach wisdom?

A Devotional on Psalm 90 (part 3)

“Make our Hearts Wise” - Psalm 90:12

My job, in simple terms, is to help emerging adults grow in wisdom. I train them in life and leadership skills, but the hardest thing to train is wisdom. How do you train someone to be discerning? How do you teach someone to make wise choices and to sift through truth and lies? Is it something that can be taught or only learned by life experience?

I’ve been thinking for a while now if I were to give a two-hour training on growing in wisdom, what would I do? What would you do? Are there things we can tangibly do to grow in wisdom?

This is not a training, as much as a poem, but I think it captures some of the heart of what I would want to offer emerging adults, or perhaps, my daughter someday. It’s what has been offered to me, and what I am still learning:

Dear one,

You want to grow in wisdom?

Listen to Jesus — to his written word, and to the Holy Spirit. He has so much to tell you.

Listen to the prophets, pastors, and poets. They are not always the same. Prophets will make you question, pastors will encourage you, and poets will make you feel. You need all of them.

Listen to the streets. To the people holding signs. To the people who ask you for money.

Listen to your body and the stories it tells you. To your desires and needs deep within.

Listen to people who are younger, older, disabled, neurodivergent, marginalized. Listen to people who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Listen to people who are Queer.

Listen to people from all over the globe.

Listen to the stories of saints already gone.

Listen to your friends and family who love you enough to be honest.

And then after you have listened, ask yourself, what did I hear?

Then listen to Jesus more. And do what he says.