The More You Know...

Call me a nerd if you would like, but I am one of the biggest fans of the television show Monk! It is rather pathetic actually, but in almost any conversation, I can quote a Monk line. There is one episode where Monk joins a cult. The cult leader states, “The more you know, the less you don't know.” In the end, Monk uses the same line to show all his lies.... I promise there is a point to all this!.... except for giving away the ending of the episode. I just felt like doing that one...

Education has been on my mind a lot lately. That could be because my kids are going back to school, and we have been doing learning projects everyday with the kids. Education is such an important part of life! It doesn't matter where you come from – whether in America, or Uganda. In a city, or in some small remote village somewhere that has no school for miles and miles and miles – education is key to survive. Sure, in those villages way out in the boonies that have no school, education will look different. They may not go to a school building (or school tree), where a teacher awaits to give them the day's lesson. But they still need to be educated, either by working alongside family, or whatever the case may be, they find their education. If not, then they are doomed to become the village idiots, and nobody wants that role (please excuse Kelly and I from that last comment, as you remember us striving to be the BBC village idiots with all our crazy shenanigans!).

“The more you know, the less you don't know.” I know, the statement is beyond cheesy (just imagine Howie Mandel saying it! It cuts down some of the cheesiness... or adds to my nerdiness...), but it has a point. The more you learn, the more skilled you become. The more diverse your world. The more opportunities you will hold in your hand. I never want to stop learning. I know, that is funny coming out of the mouth of the girl who dropped out of school, but that does not mean I have stopped learning. I just took a more hands on approach to my education. Americans do not appreciate education like we should. Sure, everyone is encouraged to go to college, and study hard. We have education so readily available that it becomes apart of life, and we overlook the privileges we have been handed us at age five! Too many people around the world do not have such access to a formal education, and many people long for such. I always think, what if the cure for cancer is trapped inside of someone who cannot read and write because they cannot afford or have access to education?

I began praying over what God wants me to do at the end of my year at Redeemer House. I want my heart and eyes open to what He wants me to do now, instead of at the end of the year when I am in a panic, because I don't know what I am doing with my life. I keep picturing myself in some small village somewhere in Africa as a teacher, or sometimes in some big city where there are a bunch of street children, and I do something like Freedom Writers (Africa edition... or wherever God calls me). I always find myself in a role of a teacher. Sunday School. Vacation Bible School. Tutoring kids in the community. Youth Group (both in Oregon being apart of the leadership team, and New Heart). And so much more, I just am not giving a resume. I love teaching, but I do not think I realized it until recently. I love the expression on a child's face when they have been struggling with a concept, and suddenly they understand. I cannot explain my joy in such moments, but my heart melts. Now, I do not know if this is what God is calling me to, or if it is because all my kids are going back to school and I have it on the brain. However, I am open for God to move me in such a direction. He has a mighty plan, and I am ready for the ride.

If being a teacher someplace is not what God calls me to, I will be okay with that. I will continue to search for what He has for me. As I search, I will continue to learn, and grasp new concepts. I do not know what God could call me to. It may be a good idea to learn as much as I can on anything I can get my hands on, so I may be prepared for the moment He reveals His plan.