Secret #3: Courage - (5) - Courage to Learn

Courage to Learn

Let’s start this piece with a few quotes – my thoughts follow closely:

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as long as we live.”(Mortimer Alder) My colleague said: As long as you’re green, you’re growing, once you’re ripe you start to rot…and it is so true. The only people incapable of learning, no matter how hard they “try”, are those who are dead.

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” (Anthony J. D’Angelo) A lot of people over 30 years of age are quick to say: “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” – I disagree – vehemently too. You are able to learn anything and all you are willing to…it’s more about your “availability” (i.e. willingness) than your ability. My advice, in Vernon Howard’s words is: “Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.”

Do you know the age of the oldest graduate in the world?
In 2007, Nola Ochs* graduated at 95; she broke the record of another woman who graduated at 90**. Then Chao Mu-he*** was 96 years old when graduated; he went back to school to encourage his grandson**** and in doing that set an example for his classmates.

I encourage you to read their inspiring stories. You know, “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” (B.B King)

A Chinese proverb says: “Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance is to drop back.” You see, there is nothing like being stagnant and stagnancy stinks and soon enough the individual starts to sink into depression and dismay. God forbid!!

So what should you do if your job is not providing you with “advancement” opportunities? Keep learning…yes take a cue from Secret 3: Courage - "Make decisions by design rather than by default." (Dianna Boocher) You need to make the decision to learn and keep learning by design. Be deliberate and determined that you will learn – it will open up new opportunities and options to you. The opportunities and options must not be work-related…you can decide to learn a new skill. For instance, I’d said I’d like to learn how to sew and play the keyboard. For now, I’m concentrating on how to make out time to read more…maybe I’ll get to sewing adn the keyboard sometime – they're still on my radar. You could also take up a new language – for all you know it could open up job and/or ministry opportunities for you and even if it doesn’t just learn. There are so many options and opportunities - including online Bible and other courses. Indeed, “What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers.” (Martina Horner)

“The more you learn what you need to know to achieve your goals, the less fear you will feel on the one hand and the more courage and confidence you will feel on the other.” (Brian Tracy) So the courage to learn leads to the courage to pursue God’s purpose for your life with passion.

I’d like to end with what my colleague said: As long as you’re green, you’re growing, once you’re ripe you start to rot. That must be why we’re referred to as “children of God” so we aware that He desires that we remain green (simple-minded) and keep growing.

Ladies, let’s look, listen, learn and live to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.

References:
*http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3167970 &
**http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18338864/
***http://www.worldrecordsacademy.org/society/oldest_college_graduate-world_record_set_by_Chao_Mu-he_90243.htm & ****http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/273034,taiwan-university-seeks-world-record-for-96-year-old-graduate.html