#learningalesson

There is quite a bit of learning we do in our lives if we’re not actively avoiding it. And some of the lessons we learn we only let in after an arduous fight. We refuse entry, deny recognition, or argue against it. We’ve let in some other bit of knowledge or experience, and there’s no room for this new nonsense!

And then, when we least expect it, that figure/bit is broken. A dart of undeniable information (or so it seems at the time) flies in and mortally wounds our thinking. Sometimes it just takes off a chunk, and it turns out we do have room for something else, but often an idea dies so another can take its place. But that lesson isn’t learned when we listen to others telling us “Now I will teach you, and you shall learn!”. It is learned on distant lands, at different times, in a setting quite removed from where we’d have our guard up.

It’s almost as if, some of the lessons we [must?] learn can only be taught to us when we aren’t paying attention. When we aren’t in the mood to learn or accept an idea. Certainly we become aware of the change in the status quo in our heads, I can’t remember a time when I was on my guard, argued my case, and listened to someone else present their idea and switched sides. It was only later, when I walked alone that I noticed the shortsightedness of my thinking, and dishonorably left it to rot while accepting its successor.

Maybe it has to do with feeling your identity threatened and trying to protect it. After all, if you have no opinion on the matter beforehand, and no protocol regarding developing an opinion on it (do you care about blood doping in sports if you hate all physical activity?), there’d be little resistance (possible in entry or exit) for that idea.

Where’s the caveat of trying to learn about things you disagree with? Of managing contradicting information in one cranium?

*shrug* I’m just writing this because I don’t want to study right now like a good student...

(It’s funny how I am always learning the same lessons, because yes, I am THAT dense)

I (re)learned a very important lesson today: contentedness.

I was volunteering today and was talking with one of the staff about what I want to do after college. I talked about my ultimate dream of working or owning an orphanage, my very recent struggle with possibly wanting to switch majors, and my expectation that it will be awhile for my dream to come true.

She gave me this pearl of wisdom when it comes to the now and to the future: it does not matter whether you are doing a job to pay the bills or living your dream, the key to joy is contentedness. You could be picking up people’s trash for a living and have joy and learn, you could be homeless and know that God is teaching you something. You could be doing and having everything you always wanted and be empty. It is all about learning to be content.

  Now this is by no means a new or original idea…