SCHOOL IS ALWAYS IN SESSION
Students everywhere are starting to go back to school. I’m thankful for good schools and good teachers. School is a part of life where there is an intentional effort made to get people to learn. School is required for young people in our nation, as it should be.
The most important school is the School of Life. We have an opportunity to learn something new every day. Learning is a lifelong process. People reach different levels of progress in the School of Life. Growing older is inevitable—growing smarter is optional!
Consider this old Persian proverb:
He who knows not, and knows not that knows not, is a fool; shun him.
He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child; teach him.
He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep; wake him.
He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise; follow him.
One of the best ways to learn in the School of Life is to be observant. Learn by observing how other people handle tough situations, how they relate to fellow workers, how they communicate goals and expectations, how God is working in everything around us—the list goes on and on. Don’t live with blinders on your eyes or your mind. Looking for new ways to learn is a big step towards learning more.
I have degrees from all levels of education. My best education has come from what I’ve learned in life from people. I have had the opportunity to speak at weekly devotionals for several large companies in Montgomery. One thing I always requested of the President/CEO was to let me occasionally sit in on their management and employee meetings and just observe. I learned more about leadership from people who knew how to lead and practice it than I did in any books or courses that I ever took!
I’ve even learned from some of my friends who play golf. I’ve learned that they don’t know a lot of the rules of golf, like each time you hit the ball counts as a stroke, and that a “gimmie” is not when the ball reaches the green. They use a term called “going to school” on an opponent’s putt. The idea is that they watch the putt in order to be able to “read” the break of the green. It’s very helpful to the person who knows how to “go to school.” Most of my friends I’ve observed didn’t learn much “going to school.” Their scores indicate it!
Young people are graded in school. Those grades become very important as they want to move to another level of learning. We also are graded in the school of life. Life always offers huge opportunities for learning—but it’s up to the individual to determine how much that person is willing to learn and apply. Opportunities are abundant—the amount learned is a choice!
Paul writes, “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 AMP)
School kids “get out of school” on Friday afternoons and during the summer months. The School of Life never takes a holiday, a weekend, or a vacation. It’s always in session!
What’s your life learning grade? Are you willing to improve it in the next season, or semester, of your life?
