Learning Something New

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My oldest son, Christopher, starts college on Monday. I think I'm jealous. The older I get, the more I love learning. I think I would appreciate college now far more than I did when I went right out of high school. Of course, I realize sitting in a classroom is not the only way to learn something new. In fact, in the past six months I've started learning three new things, without the benefit of a traditional classroom.

Perhaps the most exciting educational adventure for me right now is an in-depth study of the Apostle Paul. I'm beginning to see Paul as a real person instead of a two-dimensional Super Christian. That makes his passion for Jesus and his sufferings more real and personally challenging to me. Right now, I'm developing a time-line of Paul's life. I'm spending time cross referencing between the narrative in Acts and references that Paul makes in his letters about his travels and adventures. I also have several companion books and a lecture series I've downloaded onto my iPod that are helping. But, most of my time is spent in the Bible. It's a lot of fun!

Secondly, I just started teaching a two day a week history class for home schoolers. While I've taught individual classes before, this is the first time I've been responsible for an on-going class where kids are actually expected to learn something. For two hours a week I'm a real teacher and ironically I think I'm learning more than my students.

I'm also learning how to juggle. I'm not real good at it yet, but I did keep three balls in the air for two minutes yesterday. Juggling the right way requires intense focus and more stamina than I realized. I probably could have gone longer than two minutes, but my arms got tired. I think I may actually need strength training to become a good juggler.

The other day on the morning program we asked listeners what new skills they've recently learned. We received some wonderfully encouraging answers. There was the woman who went back to nursing school after she turned 60. Another woman, also in her 60's, just learned how to ice skate. And we got an e-mail from an older man who is now learning how to fly a helicopter. That's something I'd love to do.

We serve a God who is far bigger than we can ever imagine this side of Heaven. He provides us with opportunities every day to learn something new. To learn more about His character, to learn new ways to serve others, to learn new skills for His glory, to learn more about His unique call on each of our lives.

Have you learned something new lately?

Dave