To learn is to admit inadequacy. It’s to humble myself, to acknowledge that I am not enough on my own, with just what I have. Some people might look at that statement and cringe, because we’re supposed to be more confident and assured than that. We’re supposed to think we’re awesome and a gift to the world, to not let anyone diminish us or belittle us.

Yeah I don’t agree. I mean, I have talents and a few good qualities, sure. But I know I’m not all that. I’m not the answer to anything, I can’t save anyone, I can’t even really teach anyone. And it’s not my purpose. My purpose is to glorify God, to be enamored of Him and live a life in affection for Him. It’s to not think about me all that much.

If I think I’m something special, if I think I’m enough, I’ll stop listening to God. I’ll stop learning and hearing from Him. Learning needs an open heart just as much as an open mind.

And I want to learn. I want to grow, to become more like Christ. I want to learn other things too, like calligraphy and how to use power tools and how to be friends with someone from a different background. But even then, I have to say, “I don’t know” at some point. Really, learning is just admitting the truth: there’s so much more than me.

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Five-minute Friday is the work of Lisa-Jo Baker and now Kate Motaung. It has become a group of bloggers who write on a topic for only five minutes and then share! For more information, go here.