I’m a visual learner. I love an acrostic poem or a good mnemonic device. In a classroom setting, I don’t have to be the one doing the experiment. I’m happy to assist/watch, process, accept the information, and move on to what’s next.
In life, I've leaned toward taking the advice of others rather than opting to learn through experience. As a child, if my parents told me NOT to do something because of XYZ, it was enough for me to comply because they had put in the hard work of learning for the both of us.
I’m now watching EH develop and grow. This chick, having arrived at the ripe old age of five, is a full speed ahead, hands-on, kinesthetic kid. I thought she’d be at least 10 before I became an ignorant adult in her eyes, but her facial expressions say otherwise. (Send help.)
The last couple weeks, I’ve been stalled in my personal time. I can’t focus on my devotionals. I’m distracted in my podcasts. My typical commentaries and visuals aren’t resonating in the same way.
References to the Book of Ephesians have been in my face for several days now.
Ephesians 6-- Last week, a message on the full armor of God (link in https://www.intheseeking.com/post/well-that-s-disappointing)
Ephesians 1-- This week, in a new devotional I started, "Marriages that Minister" by J. Kirk & Melanie Lewis. (FYI: There is no mnemonic device to fast track building a Godly marriage in case you're wondering.)
Ephesians 6 (re-teaching opportunity)-- Yesterday in a FB friend's story reminding of the importance of "being strong in the Lord and in his mighty power (vs. 10)."
Now, you don't need a degree in education to recognize when the Holy Spirit is scaffolding spiritual instruction, but what we do with those lessons makes all the difference.
If I continue to apply my visual learning approach to my spiritual life, I will base my daily devotional time in commentaries and supplementary readings. The writer being the "teacher" will provide the lesson, examples, and possibly even a clever visual to help me remember the concept. To quote myself from paragraph one, "I’m happy to assist/watch, process, accept the information, and move on to what’s next."
But, do I really want to treat my relationship to God like a spelling test or geography lesson? How much more essential is learning to be Christlike than a chemistry concept?
I'm watching my kiddo and seeing that the life lessons she's learning now are shaping and memorable because she's living them out kinesthetically-- she's feeling the joy, experiencing the pain, and determining for herself whether to repeat or dust herself off and move forward.
Even though, as her earthly parent, I could have told her, shown her, and made her a tri-fold poster about what just happened-- because she lived it, she will remember.
I'm having to repeat some of my spiritual learning because I processed the information learned by others, but I didn't experience and learn for myself. I read the commentary on Ephesians, listened to the Bible scholar's lesson, glanced over the friend's devotional, but did I go to the Word for myself? Have I read Paul's writing without another human filter? Sad to say, nope.
Just like I can't tell EH everything she could possibly need to know and remember about this life, all the commentaries in the world cannot possibly supplement what the Bible has for me. Our kids have to go straight to the source for so many of their life lessons, and we much go straight to God's Holy Word to remember and grown in our own life.
Last week, I ended my post with this statement, "When seeking God, always base your study in the Bible, but these are a few of my favorite supplemental resources to move beyond spiritual disappointment to living intentionally."
I must take my own advice. Add to my spiritual learning some kinesthetic-- hands on-- Bible time everyday. Then, when I experience the joy and the dust, I will remember the lesson for myself.