Learning

On May 6, 1992 I walked across the stage at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC and received by degree.  I remember Dr. Jones, III handing it to me with one hand and giving me a handshake with the other.  I walked back to my seat and stood while the others in my academic department walked the stage.  It took about 3 or 4 minutes for everyone to be in place and then we all sat down and moved on with the ceremony.  During those 3 or 4 minutes, I distinctly remember thinking, "I am done reading."  It was a silly thought, but at that time I had so much required reading in my classes that I would have been ok with never seeing another book for the rest of my life - except the Bible.  

Well, things change and there is no way I could count the number of books I have read since that day.  In 2000 I earned my M.S. in Educational Leadership and I do not remember how many books were involved in that endeavor.   I actually wish I had some of the money back that I spent on books over the years.  What I did not fully know at that time was that my learning was really just beginning.  I now know that it is a life long process that involves a combination of learning through books, experience, and observing others, etc.  Now I am back in school and sitting on my desk right now is a book entitled, "Moral Choices:  An Introduction To Ethics."  I will start this online class in a few days and will be required to read this book (and it is a big one) over the course of 8 weeks.  And then I will read another, and another, and another and so on.

My approach is different this time around; I want to learn for my ministry / career - not just to get a passing grade and be done with it (although that thinking does creep in from time to time.)  One of my students at East Lawrence High recently told me that she sees my truck at the school almost every Saturday morning as she goes to work, then she asked me why.  I told her that is when I have my room completely to myself - no bells or schedules to keep or anything like that - and I read commentaries or biographical books.  Sometimes it is just for a little while and sometimes it is several hours, I just like reading.  In II Timothy 2:15 we read where Paul the Apostle is writing a letter to a young preacher named Timothy.  He says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  If you let that sink in, you see the extreme seriousness of that directive.  

Always learning, it never ends and that is a good thing!

God Bless,
Brother Barry
II Corinthians 5:21