Jesus Learned, and so should we

Following up my last post, I want to take a minute to reflect on the implications of Jesus' thirty years of patient education.

My first, most obvious reflection is that I'm 23. Jesus, God incarnate, waited seven more years before diving into his ministry. And yet for the last 4 years or so I have been chomping at the bit, pawing the ground to get out into the world and change it into something that looks more like, well, more like the world I see in my head - my ideal world.

But Jesus was content to stay in his carpenter shop, shaping tables and chatting with customers, or sitting with the religious teachers, asking and answering questions.

I realize that I need not change the world yet, which is hopeful. I think that perhaps I should not, which is frightening. I have learned that I yet have much to learn, which is exciting.

And so I find myself daily with a choice, as do you, I assure you. I can either feign an understanding deeper than my own, living as though life were my numbers and I life's calculator. Or I can embrace the truth that this life is more varied than my knowledge and its potentials deeper than my understanding.

I choose the latter. I will live as a student, even as I play the occasional role as teacher. For the teacher who does not learn is given other titles as well - hypocrite, imposter, fool.

Christ was none of these, for my Master was the master learner.