Learning

There is some learning--like much of my college learning--that adds knowledge. I didn't know these facts, and now I do. I didn't know the history of this, and now I do. The learning adds to my store of things I know. In some cases, it will influence the things I do or the things I am able to do (for example, knowing that patrons often have an irrational fear of asking for help in the library will influence how I approach patrons who seem to need help).

But then there is learning that adds not just knowledge, but wisdom. Learning that takes one by the hand and says, "Come with me. Let me show you what you ought to be." The kind of learning that keeps catching your attention and linking together your thoughts and actions and a new way of doing those things, a new way of understanding and behaving.

It's that kind of learning that I experienced this past week. I sat in classes from 8:45 to 4:45 (breaking of course for lunch and small breaks) and took pages and pages of notes. I learned a lot of facts and history (like, where exactly was Nineveh?). But the whole time I was doing that, there were principles and concepts that were firmly attaching themselves to my thoughts.

God loves mercy. Do I love mercy? Not just use it, or display it, but love it?
We should lay aside every weight on this race. What are the weights in my life? Are there things that may not be sinful or bad but that are distracting me?
God loves a cheerful giver. Am I cheerful about the things I do? Am I grudging with my time and service, or do I offer it as naturally as I would offer a drink of water to a thirsty child?

I had all week to seek out the answers to these abotu myself, and I fall far short of the mark, still. And yet I have so many new thoughts reinforcing my belief and my resolve to practice my belief, a lot of reminding to back up my intention.

Most weeks, I learn something new. This week, I learned things that give me life.