As students and families prepare for the start of a new education year, many of us believe that the need to learn is reserved for those involved in the formal education of schools and colleges. At a certain age, we come to think that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” “Been there, seen it all, done that” becomes our learning model. When I saw that the Pastors’ Continuing Education part of the convocation would focus on article 1 of the creed, my initial thought was what more can be said about “God the Father” that I have not heard before. Did I really want to sit in lectures before the convocation with its speeches and reports even started?
What I wanted was NO. What I needed was BUT I SHOULD. So, I signed up. As the speakers were announced, my hopes rose a little. There is representation from the scholars of our seminary. There are speakers from other faith communities (Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, an archpriest of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese and a female theologian of the Roman Catholic church.) My hope is that I will not be too bored with speeches of long words, but empty meaning. My expectation is that I will learn something new that will grant new vision to the ministry that I serve. My secret desire is that like one lecture I attended four years ago, that the speaker will present something so new that it will blow my mind and start me wandering a new path of thought and theology.
Of course, being a glutton for punishment, I also signed up for one the special sections before the education event starts. As I have for the last five convocations, I am going to the one that tells how the Life-to-Life Disciple Program is doing. I plan to keep attending this one until I actually get something I can take back to the congregation to use or the Lord calls me home. (I’m beginning to believe that the latter will happen first.)
So why am I telling you all this? I hope that you will consider how you can learn more about the Lord and His ways for your life. Maybe it is time for you to return as a student of the Lord with Bible study or other learning opportunities. For those who know it all, come share your knowledge in a discussion group. Going back to school is not for the young alone, it is also for all of us who are young in Christ.
Pastor Baker