Tip of My Iceberg

School seems to begin earlier and earlier here. Most of central Florida has begun classes, some students responding with delight, others with disdain.

Tiffany and Ramsay’s three children began their new year with different perspectives. Brooklyn, their oldest, entering third grade, is a learner at heart. She loves school, having the chance for new and challenging input, and being with friends. Mason, the middle child, would just as soon play soccer all day. School feels more like a waste of good outdoor time rather than a chance to grow in knowledge and understanding. Nolan, the youngest who’s in preschool, just wants to enjoy the adventure.

Their comments on the way to school that first day reflect where their hearts were.

Brooklyn: “I’m so excited.”

Mason: “I’m so scared.”

Nolan: “I’m so hungry.”

They’re each quick learners, but the environment of school doesn’t always suit every child.

Brooklyn is more of a traditional learner. You give her information, she’ll process it, and will understand it with a few questions.

Mason is more kinesthetic in his learning style where actually doing something with his hands helps the information stick. It’s why he has been so quick to learn soccer moves–he’s shown what he should do, and he then practices till he gets it right.

Nolan is more of a verbal processor, where saying what he’s learning out loud connects more with his understanding of what’s being taught. If he’s saying it, he’s remembering it.

We each have different ways of learning. The differences among us reflect how we hear and understand things differently. Learning can be a challenge when it’s not done in a way our minds can grasp. Learning isn’t a given; it’s a work in progress.

Jesus taught in many ways to address the different learning styles of those He ministered to. With His disciples, He provided real life, kinesthetic experiences that would allow them to encounter the truth of what He said. In Matthew 14:13-21, Jesus fed 5,000 men plus women and children with a young boy’s lunch of five small loaves and two small fish. Everyone was fed till they were full, and there were still twelve baskets of leftovers. His men participated in this miracle, yet when they got in their boat to head back to the other side, He came walking on the water toward them. They were afraid, completely forgetting what they’d just been a part of.

Jesus often taught with parables, stories that reflected real life situations. It helped people grasp the truth of what He said when He connected it to what they were familiar with. The parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32, Jesus explained the idea of true forgiveness, not based on how well we do but on the heart of the One offering forgiveness.

Because the Jews were so focused on following the the laws and traditions of the Tanakh, the Jewish scriptures, Jesus taught from this work as well, helping many of the religious rulers connect the dots to the prophecies He fulfilled from the Old Testament about the coming of the Messiah. In Luke 4:16-21, He read from the scroll of Isaiah, the first passage in the sixty-first chapter. He helped them see through the teachings of their sacred writings that He was the One who had been promised, the One who would save His people.

My three grands may have different ways of learning, even valuing uniquely what they need to learn. But understanding what’s important to make a difference in their lives is important.

Jesus wants us to understand the big picture of why He came. Learning from Him, giving ourselves the chance to hear and evaluate His truth, will help us understand how He can offer us forgiveness, hope, and love. We won’t all do it the same way, but choosing to consider His claims and promises gives us a greater perspective on our lives for the long game.

How open are you to learning what you may not yet know?