I’ve gotten to travel several times this semester and, each
time, I struggle with what to put in my suitcase. If I’m flying, I’ve got to be
very judicious about my choices because I don’t want to haul a bunch of luggage
through the airport, even if Southwest lets two of my bags fly free. But if I’m
driving, my choices seem even harder because, well, I don’t make choices; I
just dump stuff in the car and then sort it out as I go along. There must be a
happy compromise somewhere between the two.
In our spiritual journeys, we are all the time packing a
suitcase. Every Bible study, every sermon, and even conversations with friends are
full of spiritual direction that sometimes makes us think, “God, why am I
hearing this? I have no point of reference for this stuff.”
It’s really a natural response because that’s how most
adults are wired … that’s how adults learn. It’s this concept called andragogy which basically means that adults are most interested in learning
subjects that have immediate relevance to their jobs or personal lives.
Basically, our lives are so full that we tend to think we don’t have time or
energy to invest in stuff that doesn’t matter RIGHT NOW!
But it’s like packing a suitcase. Sure, you need to fit in
the things you know you’ll need, but
it’s not out-of-the-ordinary to throw in an extra outfit or jacket or swimsuit just in case. You want to be prepared .
. . just in case!
So, as you struggle through the end-of-the-semester “why am
studying this stuff” blues, hang in there. Picture yourself layering your
suitcase with the necessary, the important, and
the just-in-case … you’ll be surprised at how much of this information
you’ll use right away while other details will be tucked away into the extra
spaces just in case.
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