Be A Life Long Learner

I hated school when I was a kid and when I had the chance to stop going after high school graduation I did. I joined the navy and set sail to Europe and the Middle East. What a thought I had last week when our only guest Hanna braved the snow and made it over to our house. We started talking and asking the usual questions of "where are you from?" and "how did you get here?" and everything else that comes with meeting people. Then she drops the bomb. Her mother graduated from the same high school as me, so I ask how old is your mother, and she tells me 40. Now I'm losing it, she is basically the same age as me and this means I know her mother (it was a small school) I just can't believe this. I keep asking questions and we do the math on her mom's age and her graduation date and come to find out she is five years older and I would not have known her. Whew, what a relief! I could see it now, old yearbook photos being laughed at as someone reads the bubbles coming out of my mouth that say, "duh" "I'm stupid" and whatever else some immature person would do to a poor soul such as me. How do I know? I know these things because I did that to other people in my yearbooks. Yeah I was a jerk.

Well at the ripe age of 30 I began my under-grad degree and finished when I was 33. I took a few years off and went back to get my Masters. I think one day I'll go for my Doctorate in ministry. None of this matters really, but to say this: It took me a long time to realize that learning was good and healthy and not a waste of time and the jewels I picked up along the way not only changed my life, but challenged my way of thinking. I have come to love that challenge. I love it when someone thinks differently than me and challenges me in my thought process.

Last week I had a meeting with someone who wanted to know how the emerging church interacted with environmental issues. I gave them about an hour and let them know how I see it and how I personally live with this issue. He asked me if this would be something I would use as a discussion point on Thursday night. So what the heck. Let's do it. I am a nincompoop really when it comes to this issue. I recycle and bought a hybrid car and try to do my part, but I know there are people out there who know more that me.
Teach others and me we want to learn.