Leadership - A Heart for Learning
I took two years off after High School because I was playing hockey full-time. I’m happy I didn’t go straight to college, as it would have been a waste of time and money. Hockey was its own teacher, but I wasn’t ready yet to learn and study in a university setting. When I finally signed up for classes, I was good and ready. I was eager to earn my degrees so that I could practice law, following in the footsteps of my big brother, Don.
The Bible says, “It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning” (Proverbs 17:16). Bingo! We know that’s God’s view on the subject. We need to follow God’s way, for that is the way to genuine blessing and godly results.
America and Canada have an education crisis. The education industry takes too long to educate, costs too much, and produces sub-par results (to say the least). In many cases, it's the administrators the system is designed to benefit, not students. It looks like the legalists of old who designed a religious system to benefit themselves, caring nothing for those they were entrusted with. Slick salesmen. There is little new under the sun.
I am more than happy that the President is stepping in to demand change and to demand higher standards. Hallelujah! It’s about time. My view is that Christians should lead in this area of common-sense reform. We should take the initiative to do things God’s way, unashamedly. Done well, we will innovate and produce beyond measure.
I’m thankful that all five of our adult children love to learn. In each of their own unique ways they have hearts for learning. I pray their spouses also love to learn and their children too.
I learned early on as a young hockey player that you had to work hard, practice well, and go to hockey schools. We had good coaches in our small town, but man, there was a huge benefit of a week of intensive summer camp training. I’m thankful Dad invested in that for us. I also remember as a young goalie thinking about past games, going through plays in my head, and recounting how players had scored on me and crafting ideas about how I would approach the same situation differently next time. There are few teachers better than team sports - especially if the real pursuit is godly character.
My parents made a priority out of education. We lived in a remote farming town, three and a half hours north of civilization (just kidding, I loved growing up on the farm!). Mom and dad set an expectation with statements like, “after you are done with university, then you will….” We were from poor Scottish immigrants to Canada, but my grandparents knew the value of learning. That may not seem like a big deal now when every kid is channelled to college, but in Northern Saskatchewan in the early 1970s, university was not the norm.
My three siblings have advanced degrees and have had successful and distinguished careers in the law, finance, and the armed forces. I’m proud of them. They are the product of parents who feared the Lord and valued wisdom and education. It is a gift from God to be curious, to want to understand, and to desire to grow in Christ. Yes, the opportunity for education is important. But desire and the heart for learning are critical.
Christian leaders must follow God’s way. We must make good decisions about who to hire, fire, promote, and invest in. The Bible says, “preserve the teachings of God; entrust his instructions to those who follow me” (Isaiah 7:16). And, “Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark” (Isaiah 8:20). Let’s turn on the light and follow Jesus and His high standards.
Lord Jesus, thank you for this holy week. Thank you for everything. We are lost without You Lord God. Please help us to keep our eyes glued on wisdom. Amen.
Highly recommend marrying a reader and lifelong learner (like Kari-Lynn!)
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