My Own Education

 For the entirety of my adult life, I have considered myself to be the eternal student. I set my attitude at a fairly early age to see lessons in the mundane and everyday. When I was very young, my mom pointed out to me that we should always be learning something new. She was very intentional in helping learn from situations that we encountered. And for that, I will forever be grateful to her. For that, I strive to always be learning and growing in some form or fashion. 

And if you're wondering, that doesn't mean that I have an advanced degree in anything. I have an Associates in General Studies, that I earned nearly twenty years ago. I do believe in the merits of a formal education, but I also know that it's not the be all and end all of being educated. Since I finished my Associates, I have been a self-educator. I was taught, intentionally, by my mom to examine things- ideas, subjects, events, people, etc- from all angles. To really view things from a 360 perspective. Or at least do my best to see it from all sides. 

Ok, back to on track...

My own education has largely been through extensive reading, conversations with formally-educated close friends, and just a general study of whatever strikes my fancy or intrigues me. I have passions that have blossomed in that time of self-education and even self-study. Things like nutrition, history, psychology, and the interconnectedness of all of it. I am a collector of information. 

But not just random facts and information. If you are familiar with the StrengthsFinder 2.0; I am a Learner, Input, Connectedness, and Context. 

I love to know how things are related, from the closely-related, to the obscure connections. 

And don't get me started on how important the context of it all is. 

Because I want to "learn it all", it has been very difficult for me to find a formal degree program that has interested me enough to commit to one field of learning. But I finally figured it out a few months ago. With the help of the Holy Spirit, of course.

Biblical Studies.

In a way, it's been in front of me my entire life. I are up in church, and have attended regularly my entire life. I am a student of the Bible. And I am not tooting my own horn, by any means. This is not a "look at me, I am go great; such a wonderful person and christian" kind of thing. It is just the truth. Many years ago, I saw a light & joy in someone in mentorship of me and I wanted it. I knew enough about her story that it only came from a deep and intentional relationship with her Savior. My seeking began there. The realization that I was missing something... I just didn't know what. 

Fast forward to now, I am beginning this week on a journey that seems to be almost a lifetime in the making. 

I am beginning an online degree in Biblical Studies this week.

Last night, I got the list of books I will need for my three classes, and I immediately called my sister. She is also an eternal student of life and God's word. I was so excited, I had to share the titles and synopsis' with her too. (She is also considering getting a degree in Biblical Studies). 

All of this is to say, that just because you didn't "find your thing" at a young age, doesn't mean that you won't ever. It just means that you haven't found it, YET.

And I think that it the key here. God's word is full of "yet" moments. And so is his plan and guidance of us. 

We have been created to lifelong students. Precept upon precept.