Time to learn

Time passes and seasons change. There are signs all around us that change is coming: the days are getting shorter, football players are practicing in the field, and teachers and students are back in school. These are the changes that are common for our society today - the changes involved in the school calendar. Of course, here in the rural parish, we are also aware of the changes brought on by the seasons of the earth and weather. It is harvest time: wheat is being cut and there are beans and corn and beets to come.

The combines signify harvest and food that is grown while the big yellow school buses also on the road are the signs that school is in session. Summer is over and the learning begins. Some people are happy to see school resume; some are not happy at all. Sometimes the thought of going back to school is cause for real trauma-drama!

The day my nephew came home from kindergarten, he was so happy to be home. "I'm all done!", he announced. "I never have to go to school again!" My sister gently explained that he was done with his first year but that he had twelve more to go before he graduated from high school (she didn't even get into the topic of college).

"Twelve years?", he cried. "Mom! You signed me up for twelve more years without even asking me? How could you?"

Aren't we ever done with learning? Can't we just go along on what we know already? According to doctors and recent medical studies, one of the best investments we can make in our own health is to keep learning new things. Using our minds by reading, solving puzzles, and even playing games, keeps our minds active and agile as we age and can prevent or lessen the affects of age-related dementia. It seems we are never to old to keep learning.

But it seems sometimes we are all to ready to call it quits at eighth or ninth grade (confirmation age) when it comes to matters of faith. I read an article on troubled congregations and the conclusion of the author was that too many churches are run by people whose faith was last challenged and nourished when they were in junior high. The author went on to make the point that adult faith requires us to continue to study the bible and theology as we grow so that our faith grows into adulthood with us.

That doesn't mean that we all have to go to college and seminary though. Faith grows through our reading, listening to, and studying scripture and contact with the Holy Spirit through study, worship and prayer. This we can do on our own, but I know for myself, that I am always blessed ten-fold when I do this with others. When we study and pray together, our faith is held up and strengthened by each other especially when we are living through times of questions and grief. And unlike academic studies, God is always ready, loving, and present as our tutor! Read Proverbs 1:1-7.