education (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)

 ¹⁰  You’ve been a good apprentice to me, a part of my teaching, my manner of life, direction, faith, steadiness, love, patience, ¹¹  troubles, sufferings—suffering along with me in all the grief I had to put up with in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. And you also well know that God rescued me! ¹²  Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. 2 Timothy 3:10-12 (MSG)

Study. Study in earnest. If you are to be salt and light, you need knowledge, capability. Or do you imagine that an idle and lazy life will entitle you to receive infused knowledge?  (1)

Recently, I chose to return to school.  I have to admit some trepidation over this, I’ve never been the one to fit into most educational systems, I don’t care about the what as much as why, and that gets me in trouble at times.

My first class, two weeks in, I am struggling with the texts, and the line of thought which doesn’t going directly to the stated purpose of the course, or for that matter, to the reason I challenged and entered this program.  As I was thinking last night – do I challenge the professor? Do I just drop out? Or do I trust God who opened this door, and dedicate the work to God, who makes it all possible?

The latter will be tough, it will challenge me in a way I do not like – it challenges my intellectual pride and my apathy when it comes to education without clear cut meaning.   But that is perhaps where I need to be challenged the most – to do things in a disciplined way even though I don’t see the logic or reasoning.  I’ve got to go through the motions, but seeing them, not just as make work, but rather as part of His plan.

We need to do this as followers of Christ as well.  Maybe we don’t get why we go through the motions of liturgy, or why it is beneficial to go to Bible Study as well Sunday Church.  We don’t get yet, why communion is so critical to our faith and our need to commune as often as possible.  It may take some time to realize how precious the work of God is, when He baptizes a baby, or a 94 year old lady.  We may know the Bible passages – we may be able to argue it intellectually, but there is something in the process of grasping the why… that takes it to a whole different level, that of our soul.  That of instinctual trust, that of Christ transforming us, as we look to Him for the strength to do that which challenges us.

So pray for me inmy studies, that I could dedicate them to God, and do well… and pray for us all, as we struggle with God’s plan, not seeing His hand in it, but finding the strrength to persevere, because He is here.

Lord Have Mercy we pray!

(1)  Escriva, Josemaria (2010-11-02). The Way (Kindle Locations 868-870). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.

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