Paul’s Ponderings for September, 2007

“Study is hard work. It is so much easier to find something else to do in its place than to stay at the grind of it. We have excuses aplenty for avoiding the dull, hard, daily attempt to learn. There is always something so much more important to do than reading. There is always some excuse for not stretching our souls with new ideas and insights now or yet or ever.” (Sr. Joan Chittister Quoted in Essential Monastic Wisdom, by Hugh Feiss)

Well it is the time of year yet again which children loathe and parents love: Back To School! Ah yes, the wonderful sound of children everywhere squealing with excitement at the prospect of staying inside all day and sitting at uncomfortable desks whilst listening to iterations of the three Rs. What’s not to love about that? And what about you parents? You’ve been swamped all summer with the little ones under foot, trying to encourage them to go outside and have fun in the sun and stop watching so much TV and not to eat so many sweets and quit griping about being bored…I’ll bet you’re just grinning from ear to ear that soon the house will once again be quiet and you can finally get some peace.

We adults are lucky. We’ve paid our dues in school. Been there, done that. Don’t ever have to again. Ever! No, NEVER I tell ya!

Really? Do you quit learning just because you are no longer in school? Of course you don’t. Don’t you take the time to learn new things to help you do your job better? Don’t you work hard to become a better parent, spouse, golfer, card player, gardener, etc., etc.? Those things involve learning. Of course that kind of learning is something we want to do; it interests us, makes us a better person. We can do it on our own time, even at our own pace. Heck some employers even give us time off and pay us to learn how to do our jobs better. Can’t beat that with a stick.

Then how about church learnin’–bible study, religion, spirituality? Why is it that as soon as we get confirmed most of us don’t ever take part in learning more about the faith, apart from the sermons on Sunday? Do we think Sunday School and church studies are just for children and youth? May I suggest that they most certainly are not?!

Do you want to be a better parent, spouse, golfer, card player, gardener, etc., etc.? How about your job? Want to be better at it? Then give Adult Christian Education a try. Learning more about Christian faith and life not only helps you be a better Christian, it helps you be a better you. So. Why not join us on Sunday mornings in our Adult Forum, or on Tuesdays for our Bible Study, or at Theology and a Pint every first Tuesday, or at any of the other offerings of Adult Education which are presented throughout the year? Now, what’s not to love about that?

Thanks be to God!