Dear friends,

Do you have good memories of school? It used to be said that they were “the best years of your life”, although I know that for some people they weren’t always such happy times. I enjoyed school, but was happy to leave when the time came. There were new experiences to enjoy, new things to learn, new places to see, things that I would never have discovered if I’d stayed in the same place.

When I was very little, I used to believe that my teachers knew everything, but as I got older came to realise that the more we learn, the more we see how much we don’t know and how much more there is to find out.

Jesus was accompanied in his ministry by a group of disciples – women and men who wanted to learn from him. The word “disciple” means “learner”, although one book about discipleship I read recently uses the word “apprentice”. An apprentice learns through watching, listening and doing. Being a follower of Jesus means being committed to learning from him: “listening” to his teachings in the Gospels, “watching” the way he acted, how he treated people and how he related to God, his Father. It means putting what we have learnt into practice, following his example, becoming more like him.

Young children are eager to learn, constantly ask questions and are happy to try new things out. Sometimes, though, as adults, we don’t find it so easy to learn new things.

It took me a long time to learn to drive a car. It took me even longer to pass my test. My fear of making mistakes made me extremely cautious – but with the encouragement of a very patient teacher, I eventually passed on the 4th attempt!

The fear that we don’t know enough and are going to make mistakes or thinking that we have all the answers: both of these hold us back in our growth as Christians. One attitude prevents us putting our faith into action or asking the questions we really want to ask. The other leads to complacency. Both deprive us of the opportunity to explore our faith and learn more about God. And, of course, the more we learn about God, the more we realise that there is always going to be more to discover about God.

As we watch the children in our families, or in our neighbourhoods, returning to school this autumn, can we also take up the challenge to be learners, students and apprentices of Jesus? What new things does God have for us to learn this year?

With all best wishes,

Carolyn

This letter by Rev. Carolyn Lawrence was first published in the September,
2009 Monthly Letter.