Teach-Able

My husband and I have been taking weekly tennis lessons this winter. While we have been playing tennis for a while, the lessons have improved our game and therefore have made playing even more enjoyable. Friends of ours who are in their 80’s are also taking lessons. They may be young octogenarians but the fact that they still want to learn and improve speaks to the life learners that they are.

I am a firm believer in life learning and in being curious about the world. But what about being a life teacher?

The other day our instructor said that he did not believe that people are too old to learn something new. As a teacher he is looking for and open to the receptive student. He is optimistic and hopeful that as long as one is alive, one can always learn something. Yet, he doesn’t write anyone off just because they do not seem like the typical learner.

I like that attitude of our friends and our instructor: being teachable and teach-able.

The greatest teacher was Jesus. He used object lessons and teachable moments. He spoke in parables so that the individual “student” would have to work out the answers. He saw the learning potential in everyone, especially those who were marginalized and on the fringes. He taught in the literal posture of humility: In the ancient world a teacher would sit down when something important was being imparted. But the act of sitting, if others around you are standing, is a vulnerable position especially if those around you might not agree with what is being said. Many times Jesus sat among the multitudes. By being in that vulnerable position, it conveys the attitude that the teacher is open to learning alongside the pupil.

The greatest student was Jesus. While it could be said that He did have an advantage over the rest of us, He knew His subject matter. Yet He demonstrated the act of constantly learning by constantly engaging with the world around Him and with those He came in contact. He daily checked in with God for instruction and guidance.

It made me think about how open am I to learning and in passing along that learning? Am I in a posture of learning from others? Do I have the posture of expecting others to learn? Have I written off some people as un-teachable?

What about you? What is your posture and attitude towards learning and teaching? Who were your most influential teachers? What made them so special? What was the most valuable information that you learned? Have you ever “taught” someone? What was the information or circumstances?

As our recently deceased friend demonstrated through his relationships with people: being in a posture of humility of learning about others-what makes them tick and what they are interested in- opens the channels of shared information and ultimately expands our world.

As we go about our day, may we look for opportunities to “teach” others and ways we may be taught. Not in a patronizing nor haughty, “I know it all” way, but rather in a way that looks at others and information as teachable and teach-able: What I have to impart may be helpful to you because what you have to impart may be helpful to me.

Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another. Gilbert K. Chesterton

Bucket Learning List

Recently I heard someone speak about her “bucket learning list”. I think by now, the term bucket list is pretty much universally used to describe those activities or experiences that one wants to do during one’s lifetime.

What I like about this new expression is the emphasis on learning. What subjects do you want to learn in your lifetime? I have found that when I think about it, the list continues to grow and grow. If I give myself permission and if I had enough resources and time, my learning appetite is insatiable.

I think I would want to thoroughly learn about all educational subjects: Literature from all countries (e.g. English Lit, French Lit, South American Lit, Russian Lit. etc.); History- especially the interconnectedness of the events happening simultaneous throughout the world, Fine Arts- music and art history, appreciation, as well as the mechanics of painting and performing music, Latin, Greek and Hebrew (to be able to read the Bible in its original form), Romantic Languages (although my track record is not so hot), Astronomy…

In addition I would want to learn how to do basic carpentry, master gardening, the proper way to use cooking knives and chopping techniques, science/chemical reactions of cooking, salsa dancing lessons, interior design…

This is just a partial list that I compiled in two minutes.

What about you? What would be on your bucket learning list? How would you go about learning that information? Do you need to find more information about the educational opportunities in your community? Do you have friends who are “experts” in a specific field? Could you meet and trade information? What does your local community college offer? Parks and Recreation counsel? Local library? If attending classes are not in the budget, what about systematically going through the subject books in your local library? (for instance, all the biographies on all the United States Presidents.) Or, systematically go through YouTube videos on a subject. As you start looking at information, intentionally look at opinions or information from opposite viewpoints.

One of the greatest gifts that God has given us is the gift of curiosity and learning. If these things do not come naturally to you, cultivate it- start by looking at your world as if seeing it for the first time. You will be amazed at what you learn and see.

The Greeks have said, “to marvel is the beginning of knowledge and where we cease to marvel we may be in danger of ceasing to know.” ( E.H. Gombrich, Art and Illusion)

Fill that bucket by marveling at all the things you can learn.