"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs
So, what is it like to go back to school at Fifty-Seven years old? What is it like to sit back in those horrible seats and watch a teacher again? What is it like to get graded, have pop quizzes, and have your work critiqued daily? In business, it is called micro-management. In school, it is called a good teacher. Weird.
I have a lifelong friend, who graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Finance. He is quite brilliant, although his grades did not reflect it. (My grades clearly aligned with my averageness.) Some years later, his work ethic and intelligence brought him to a position of authority over Ph.D. earners. He went back to school in his forties for graduate studies. He knocked it out of the park. (I think he even taught the class!). He enjoyed the process.
That’s not me. I desire to learn, but I hate the classroom setting. I desire to understand Spanish but dread not having the answers. I hate the rush of getting homework done five minutes before class. ( I know…time management)
I love my wife but having her in the same class is painful...in a nice way.
For the record, Gia was “that” student. The one that took notes, sat up front and reminded the teacher (in that snotty good student voice) to collect homework.
I was “that” student too. The one that sat in the back, made surfing waves with my paper and fearfully asked my fellow students,” Is there a test today?”
I would then throw my wadded-up “wave” at the Gia types.
Back to school. All joking aside, what changed my life as a Christian was not just that the Creator showed up personally but I found new clarity and purpose in His creation.
I now see the link between His unconditional love and the beauty of a rainbow.
I learned the importance of shepherding His natural world and supernatural people.
I was given a passion for learning about everything and more so, everyone.
now understand the gift of education in regard to service, the ability to help our fellow travelers and especially our Christ-given brothers and sisters around the world.
For me, if I have a passion for a certain group, I should know their language.
With this mindset in hand, our day consists of five hours of in-class lessons and a few hours at home along with immersion and cultural projects. Nights are spent creating relationships in the gym or park.
I do love it but I know it is because God has given me a love for it. He said this beautifully when learning was quite a bit more difficult.
"Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants." Deuteronomy
Today, learning is easy. It is easier than it has ever been in the history of the world. It actually comes to you like a door dash delivery…call it brain dash.. online we have over eight hundred million videos on YouTube alone.
% of respondents prefer watching videos to accessing information or instructional content via text or audio. And eighty-three % of people accessing YouTube are there to learn something new. But how to find great content is a bit harder.
Well, try this.
Your “tarea” homework today is to go online…that’s easy…go to YouTube…easy…look up Bible Project videos…The Book of Proverbs. Or just copy it here.
https://youtu.be/Gab04dPs_uA?si=hWYLUohX_dpFHzb6.
See how you like this new style, or not so new, of learning. Who knows, could be the start of a new daily devotion. Since no teacher is watching, you can still make waves with your paper and then chuck them at your wife...in a nice way!
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