What should I do?!??

proverbs 20:18

there are a few different things i've experienced recently regarding advice: first, my parents try to give a lot of it; second, my school teachers have undoubted given me some of the best of it; three, God's is the best and found in the Bible, but too often i forget about that source.  to that end, this verse reminds me of advice's true value.  though i may not be preparing myself for mortal combat of the physical kind anytime soon, the same idea applies to all other aspects of life.  by seeking advice from God, plans for carrying out his will and for adhering to his designs will be formed and lead to a more successful journey.  disobedience--which only serves to injure what lay in our best interest--fails by contrast and only results in barring us from our optimal position.  and forgetting, or deliberately avoiding, the guidance of others likely damages by virtue of inadvertent discrepancy with the ideal course of action as God might have hoped for us.

with the first, i ought to try and listen to their adages with more patience.  like mentioned by others in sunday school, they're only attempting to prepare me for the real world as the day of my departure from home for college draws near--this summer and every day counting up until the end of the school year represents another opportunity for them to stuff me chock-full of wisdom so i make the minimal number of mistakes possible.  they just care.  its frustrating when the advice seems superfluous, but i appreciate their goodwill, at least.  tonight, when they--as they undoubtedly will--throw words of wisdom at me, i'll just say okay, thanks, or yes mom/dad.  it's that simple, right?

school teachers.  theyre legitimately some of my favorite people in the whole world.  i love them love them love them.  they motivate me to go to school and inspire me to be a better student, a better scholar, a more open-minded/perceptive individual, a bigger dreamer.  because of them, i can believe in my self a bit more and be honest with myself.  certain english teachers, american history teachers, statistics teachers--for them, i hold genuine adoration, and i hope to one day sit down with them for a cup of coffee at some classy cafe much better than starbucks.  (to be honest, starbucks is tacky compared to real coffee--no class.)  im not exactly sure where my admiration for them arose.  their respect and approval means more to me than that of most others.  of course, God's should be first.  but after that, i feel like theirs is next.  anyways, with their advice, i've overcome the tumultuous roller coaster of high school.  when i didn't know what to do and the pressure of everything that "mattered" crashed down on me, they're the ones whose consolations drove home and whose hugs were most comforting.  i knew in my heart that God would take care of everything, but on the outside i was still shaking.  but at school, in their classrooms chatting after the bell, i found a safe haven and refuge from pressure's attacks.  "sometimes sleep can be a priority"--"be honest, and if they don't like it, you wouldn't want to be there [at that university] anyways"--"do you wanna play the game and say what they wanna hear or be true to yourself"--"hes in control in the end".  i like to think that in the war zone of high school, i obtained guidance with sufficient frequency.  today, it was my honor (as an application of the verse and in fulfillment of a desire from the bottom of my heart) to acknowledge that guidance with a few more gifts and letters of appreciation/gratitude.  i think i'll be counting on those future coffee dates for my own sanity.  more than many things, i hold to the ideal of those extended and lifelong symbols of mentorship/friendship.

the bible ought to be my absolute best friend.  whenever i have a problem, i ought to consult it.  to some degree i think im learning about that and implementing it--i mean, i did consider my situation and seek biblical advice on it where the last post was concerned.  and as i interpreted the word, it became exceedingly clear to me what i was to do.  in application, im pushing myself to read even a snippet of the word everyday.  spiritual nourishment isn't a some days yes, other days not.  in particular, proverbs offers the best advice in the most concise manner. i've also got my eyes wide open for God.  and next time i wonder what i should do--i know who to ask.