Sunday Sentiments: Always a Student

 

When I worked in the Financial Aid Office years ago, there was a season when several of my co-workers were pursuing graduate degrees simultaneously. The main thing that I learned during that period of life was that I didn’t think I ever wanted to go back for a graduate degree. They were always so frazzled, trying to juggle a full-time job, classes, family, hobbies, church, and the occasional partial night of sleep.

            So for the past (almost) 25 years since my own college graduation, I’ve had no desire to go back to school. No desire to make that commitment to be extra stressed and have no margin in life.

            But slowly, God is changing that in me. This week I spent a couple of hours researching schools and degrees and starting to pray about whether or not that is a step I should take in my life. I don’t know the answer yet. Maybe I will and maybe I won’t. Either way, I am more confident than ever that I do really love to learn, and I hope that never stops.

            I’ve been taking free online classes in a few subjects and researching more. I’ve been adding books to my wish list on everything from Bible study methods to making an amazing cup of coffee to photo organization.

            There may not be any certificates or quizzes or papers or degrees attached to the learning I’ve committed to lately, but you know what has been involved? Learning. And isn’t that what matters most?

            I find it to be an absolute gift that we live in an age when we have the ability to learn so much – right here at our fingertips. And if you’re willing to do a little digging, you can often find the learning resources to be very affordable or even free. That’s a gift, too!

            I hope I never lose the wonder of learning. Whether I go back as a certified student or simply learn through the resources I find, I hope I always learn – and want to learn more. That’s never a waste of time!