Yesterday I wrote about some things that I have decided to keep in my “ignorance” category. Today, I list a few things that I believe are useful and pure that will not only help me but also those around me. To be ignorant in some areas of life is blistering. It can actually hurt you. Here are some things that I am happy to know and learn more about:
Other People’s Interests – Of course, this is not universal and excludes the previously mentioned abstentions. Having an interest in others is a healthy and beneficial practice. I want to learn, not necessarily about everything others know, but the ideas and interests that fuel their passions. Learning about people is first to learn of their interests, passions, dreams, goals, and skills. Too often we coast through life having never opened the glorious depths of other people while contemplating how boring the world is. I have never been bored. Not once in my life. Taking time to learn about other people is something that grows us immensely. I make this one of my top priorities every day.
My Own Community at Large – It is easy for me to get caught up with matters from around the world while ignoring what is going on where I live. I have learned to care more about my local communities (not just my town, but surrounding areas) because that is my first responsibility. My area is my first mission field. This may seem odd to say, but if I skip over the needs I can see, how am I justified in meeting the needs of those I cannot see? The latter should be done, but not at the cost of the first. Local political and social issues are much more important than the national stage. The things that affect our neighbors are not only a priority, but because we are together, we can do something about it. We can speak and act and give to our local needs with great success. So, learning more about my local community is vital. A recent example is that we have a large number of Haitian families living here now, so I have already begun learning Haitian Creole.
My Personal Faith and Scripture (Contextual) – I need to learn, think, and share what the Scriptures teach me and deal with my faith in a manner that results in thanksgiving and service to the people in my life. (Here and everywhere) I have said for years that we cannot give to others that which we do not possess. If we do not have a growing and active faith there is no possibility we will effect change and growth in other people. That is why it is so easy to argue about theology rather than know the Bible. The two are not comparable and those who argue that they are do not have an effectual faith among their peers. Being the answer man is not helping anyone grow in Christ. Period. There must be biblical application to the lives we live at large, not in a theological vacuum. It boils down to the matter of those who claim to trust the Lord but will not trust the prescriptions therein. If I am not growing in what I know and do, I have dead faith.
My Own Thoughts, Health, and Needs – This is not selfishness. For a long time, I thought it was selfish to think of what I needed and to make sure I took time to manage my own mind, body, and soul. Jesus hid from His disciples and the crowds regularly in order to pray and commune with the Father, rest His body, and prepare Himself for the teaching and ministry of death. I give the first of my day to this matter and out of necessity, I manage my schedule around my health issues. During these downtimes, I make good use of thinking, reading, meditation, and prayer. I cannot be ignorant of these matters, for if I ignore them, I will be fruitless to everyone. I am learning new ways to remain healthy by gaining new insight into nutritional science and physiology for the 50-plus crowd. If I don’t take seriously my own health, who will? My doctor? Nope, I am not a cookie-cutter critter. My needs are not the same as every other man my age.
The Needs of Others – So, that you see I am not trying to be selfish, we must always be learning about how we can meet the needs of others. Scripture teaches me that I am to consider their needs as more important than my own. This implies that mine are important also. Caring for others requires learning. If I just start giving everyone I meet a box of Tic-Tacs thinking I am doing good for them but half of them are diabetic, I am not meeting any needs. Or, if I decide people need the books that I like or the clothes that I bought. In order to truly meet needs, we have to learn from each person. Except in a crisis of a grand scale, there are few times when broad brush needs can be met with a bottle of water and a pair of socks. The more we engage with individuals, especially those who don’t think the same way we do, we learn about cultural matters relating to bias and fairness and how these issues, while they may not affect me, affect those around me. I am not a hero. I am a servant. I do not get to decide what other people need. I have to be told.
The Teaching of Jesus and His Apostles – This goes without saying. Yet, for many believers, it is an afterthought. We’d rather read a book by a dude done dead than read a living Word given by a living savior. I spend more time here than anywhere else in seasons and still have much more to learn. If I were to say, “I know that”, it would be a sign of arrogance and yes, ignorance. We must grow to grasp and understand the New Testament teachings, not in a systematized manner but through intimacy with the text.
French, Haitian Creole, and Spanish – I have been a semi-fluent French speaker at times. But language is always in flux and the natural vernacular of the language has long left my grasp of it. So, I spend thirty minutes a day working on revitalizing my French. Haitian Creole, which is not French nor comparable though it may share words, is necessary for me at the present time due to the fact there are people in my town who speak that language only. The same is true for Spanish. While I love other languages, what benefit are they if I cannot use them in life? I do, from time to time, stay up on my reading of Greek and German, yet, I would do well to focus on communicating with real people rather than gaining new knowledge.
Necessary Ideas and Worldviews – Staying abreast of ideas is difficult. There is nothing new under the sun, but there are new ways of putting everything and it seems to be happening daily. I filter dozens of ideas each day. Primarily reading several news outlets such as the BBC, Reuters, AP, NPR, Al Jazeera, along with a principal left and right newspaper gives me a quick look at the world each week. For the most part, glancing at the sub-headlines and finding the point establishes a factual baseline from which I can avoid controlled media sources. I don’t want to take time to weed through the nonsense. I just want to know where the storm hit and who needs help, I don’t need to hear about what the mayor did or didn’t do during the surge. That is not news, it’s stupid. Rarely do I ever have to pause and consider the implications of other things, but there are necessary ideas that an advocate and someone who loves people must pay attention to. I’m sure you’ll see my thoughts on some of these in time. Because of my interest in being biblical (big word), I filter my thoughts and feelings about how to see and respond to ideas from what I know in Scripture. If I am not studying either, I am ignorant of both. It is a good idea to entertain learning about any profitable and useful interest, especially those things that come into our personal and intimate space.
How to Listen, Learn, and Lead – These skills are not innate. We must always be learning how to learn, listen, and lead. One of the largest problems in our culture is that once we get the data, we feel expertise is our banner. That is the furthest from the truth. The greatest expert is the one searching and adapting. When it comes to influence in a positive way, a leader learns about not just his craft and those he serves, but himself. There are very few schools or organized instruction on these things so wisdom comes from intimate relationships with those who have gone before. You know, like older folks teaching younger folks… I think I have heard that before. If I am not learning then I will never lead. That is why so many people of the older generation have lost the respect of the youth. There is no viable purpose to coexist. What a waste. I will not be a waste in my old age. Lord willing.
Sound Theological and Christian Education According to Scripture – This could be long, but I’ll leave it quickly. I am always seeking mediums and instruments that can assist in the education of Scripture to those who desire it. And it is not done in a classroom, but in life. The age of effective “Sunday Schools” and “Small Groups” are dead. Intentionality in life requires sacrifice and purpose. I can change an alternator in my driveway and teach someone more in an hour than they would get in 16 weeks in a course. And it would have teeth and life. So, I am always about gaining more understanding on how to effectively immerse instruction in everyday life that is not awkward, contrived, or stupid. I am big on Differentiated Learning/Teaching and understand that it must be a mainstay in my diet of interests. Having students in eleven countries gave me insight into this need.
Necessary Maintenance or DIYs – Just like that alternator, I will always be learning how to do things. I do 95% of all projects, maintenance, and repairs myself. Even on my computers, instruments, and animals. Have something that needs some attention? Take a minute to see if you could learn how to do it yourself. It’s a lot of fun and very useful to the neighborhood.
Economics – what a bore. But, we need to understand how things work so we aren’t caught up in the storm of misinformation. This is an area I wish I had learned in my youth. But, it’s never too late. If you think your 401K or Money market is a guarantee, you sit in a place of ignorance. How do I know? Because I have lost everything, twice. 2008 and 2022. Yep. It’s time to learn how to watch and understand economic indicators and NOT listen to the “pros” making dimes of your dollars.
Simplification of Ideas – Oh, the complexity of academia! I love it. But, it is not beneficial for the world. When it comes to understanding things, I have to be able to not just teach, but also relate big ideas to children. If we can teach complex things to kids, we can help anyone see them. I press everything into simpler ways and in doing so, I feel that I learn more myself, especially about those who depend on my guidance for their lives.
All this being said, there were about twenty more on each list. My parting shot is that I make sure I acknowledge when I am an idiot, where I am ignorant, and take a good measure of my limits. I am not able to do everything I think I can. In kind, I am always exploring the nature of my gifts and talents and how they are useful. These things together keep me focused on my purpose and that is a good thing.
Give me your ideas. What areas are you always learning? How does what you KNOW and UNDERSTAND help the people around you?
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