What Did You Learn Today?
I am in Central Florida this week (Mickeyville) for the largest gathering of humans in North America who want to be involved in propagating, promoting and pro-creating groups of people to follow the way of Jesus around the world.
Essentially we are here to listen and learn. But not only these people, all people are looking, listening and learning today…across the world and around the globe.
Last week I wrote you about the marks of a human, being. Many times we are labeled as human beings, or specifically, homo-sapiens. The Latin origination means “wise man” or “knowing man.” The very nature of our species designation tells us something about the wonderful creation we are.
When looked at among all the beings in creation, humans are very different. We have a brain that is more highly conceived and developed than any other form of life. We are capable of reasoning, even in an abstract sense. We create language, contemplate purpose and solve complex problems.
The first mark of a human, being, is that she is a learner. We experience, gather knowledge, group it, discern it, apply it to a myriad of applications. From the moment we are born we learn from and in the world around us. We are, as the ancient lyricist wrote, ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.”
We read, go to school, examine history, receive training, observe, listen, and sense. We probe, interrogate, investigate, explore, experiment and seek. We gain, then enhance, our skills. We follow our interests and discover new things.
We are a human, being.
What sets us, as homo-sapiens, knowing beings, apart? It is the imprint of our Creator. He is, as theologians tell us, omniscient. We are created to know, but our knowing is incremental. As the Wisdom texts of the Jewish Scripture tells us about the process, “Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” [Proverb 9.9, NIV]
As you be-come, let your mark of humanity be that of a learner. You are always growing, always learning, always exploring, and always experimenting, always on a quest for more. But, in your learning, do not be narrow. Learn physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.
Learn physically by testing your limits and developing your body to vigorous health.
Learn intellectually by reading, studying, taking classes and experimenting.
Learn emotionally by self-discovery and examination, exploring the why and how of your pathology.
Learn spiritually by opening your heart to the things of the Divine.
Paul, the last Christian Apostle, wrote to Christ-learners in the city of Colossae, located in modern-day Turkey, ” [I am] asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works…. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.”
So, the first mark of a human, being, is learning. You are a homo-sapien, a ‘knowing’ human. What new thing might you get to know today?
Be.
