Life-Long Learning
I think I experienced some fatigue today from my schedule yesterday. I did have my massage appointment which resulted in discovering some tighter muscles and joints than in previous sessions. I need the massage after therapy to recover from therapy, and then I need a nap to recover from the massage!
I have been reading through early CaringBridge posts and have taken note of a few in the early part of August 2013 that Christian wrote. I learned a little more about what I was experiencing and Christian did a good job trying to explain to others the challenges of my immobility and debilitating condition. I believe he also did a good job challenging readers about lessons that were already emerging from the first few weeks of hospitalization.
Emily, my student occupational therapist, was working with me yesterday and found that my scapula in both of my shoulders did not seem to be moving properly. So, she spent quite a bit of time addressing that issue. I actually felt this was pretty insightful and helpful in pinpointing a key area to restoring my strength and range of motion in my shoulders and arms.
Emily (pictured with me) was working at McKee Hospital last year at this time. She recalls some of my early days of hospitalization and was present to help me sit up on the edge of the bed for the first time and also recalls the challenging trek to get me outside in a wheelchair with all my poles and tubes. That effort took a nurse, two therapists and several family members. It proved to be quite an undertaking, but was worth the few moments that I could tolerate the effort at the time.
It has been interesting to have someone working with me that had experience with me in those early days in the hospital and now as an outpatient. I trust it provides her a good perspective for her future work.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…“Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.” Proverbs 23:12
When it comes to continued personal growth in all facets of life the issue is one of the “heart.” That is an inward commitment manifested in consistent actions. Solomon basically says, “when your heart is committed to instruction, you will be open to words of knowledge.” I notice it doesn’t say you will “speak” words of knowledge.
Life-long learning is a personal commitment that often makes the difference between the quality of leaders and ongoing personal growth. The opposite would be an individual who views themselves as having “arrived” and as one who, no longer views themselves as a “student” but only as one who possesses knowledge.
I found that sometimes “wisdom” comes from reading, structured classes, from others or life experiences. One of the best approaches to life is to ask yourself, “what can I learn from this experience”? That is something that I have been doing considering the journey of my life this past year. (My hope is that I can quantify and articulate all those lessons.)
I also have observed that the more I learn, the more I realize “I don’t know!” As a matter of fact, speaking from my political experience, one of the best admissions (especially in an interview) is to simply say, “I don’t know.” Instead of trying to bluff your way through by sounding wise, it is often better to state what probably everyone else including yourself knows. You can only put yourself in a position to learn, when you admit your lack of knowledge in an area.
That can make you vulnerable. Because I have found that everyone has knowledge in certain areas of training or interest. They often use that to marginalize others. After all Paul the apostle said it well, “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (1 Cor. 8:1) When some one attempts to test your level of knowledge on a subject only to assert their own pride of what they know, they aren’t a good source of “wisdom”. Somewhat when the religious leaders of Jesus day approached Him with a question. It wasn’t out of sincere desire to learn only to hear a response that they can “pounce on” to use to their own advantage.
Regardless of the challenges you may face, follow Solomon’s advice and “commit your heart to instruction, your ears to wisdom.” I like the adage “you don’t know what you don’t know.” But one committed to learning, especially from God’s Word, and you will grow in wisdom so that your leadership and personal influence can bring glory to God.