Classroom encounters
Growing into the wisdom of God
Feb 13, 2002
by Ellen T. Charry
Our parents are our first and most important teachers, but they cannot teach us everything. Sometimes they are not equipped to teach us some things we need. Sometimes they teach us things that we do not need. So we move at age five or so to additional teachers.
I come from a tradition that says we need teachers and we need to study all our life long in order to grow into the wisdom of God. It recognizes that we are capable of learning different things at different ages. A seven-month-old cannot learn to walk, but a 12-month-old can. A 12-month-old cannot be toilet-trained, but a 36-month-old can. My tradition says that we are not able to learn the wisdom of God until we are 40 years old.
This comforts me, although I have passed the deadline. It tells me that partaking of the wisdom of God for which I long does not come easily. I must be prepared for it. Spiritual maturity takes a long time.
I come from a tradition that says we need teachers and we need to study all our life long in order to grow into the wisdom of God. It recognizes that we are capable of learning different things at different ages. A seven-month-old cannot learn to walk, but a 12-month-old can. A 12-month-old cannot be toilet-trained, but a 36-month-old can. My tradition says that we are not able to learn the wisdom of God until we are 40 years old.
This comforts me, although I have passed the deadline. It tells me that partaking of the wisdom of God for which I long does not come easily. I must be prepared for it. Spiritual maturity takes a long time.
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