How we learn

If this blog is about nothing else, it may be about me discovering what I think about how learning happens, and what happens when people learn, and why learning matters, and why learning about oneself (self-awareness) is imperative. 

Sheesh!  The theme of my forties is, "Integrate, integrate, integrate."  That's good stuff.  And I am wanting to challenge myself more...in little baby-step ways.  Sometimes working through the hard stuff of life (conflict, trauma, entrenched patterns in myself) is so overwhelming...I don't know what I need or how to care for myself in the moment well enough to be the person I want to be.  I am blessed to be loved by many people who see me through those moments of dis-integration, or who are happy enough to resume the conversation when I've found my calm again.

Anyway, here's a lovely thought on education from my brother-in-law, who rocks.  It says what I haven't known how to say.

“The purpose of education is to help us clarify to ourselves the ideas we think with; education should make us aware of our convictions and assumptions so that the meaning of our experience becomes less muddy. We don’t think ideas, we think through ideas. Concepts are the tools we use to sort, define and comprehend the meaning of events.”  

Robert Inchausti – “Subversive Orthodoxy”

The Yearly Round

Since 2010, I've been minister of Christian Education and Worship at our church, Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church.  I am still humbled and very thankful for the way this position came to be, and I feel tremendously blessed to be able to fulfill most of the obligations for this 1/4 time position from my home with my husband and children.

I also feel thankful for the times this work allows me to be off on my own for a few hours!

Since my previous paid employment involved ministry with elders, the learning curve in this "new" position has been steep.  I love children, but I have so, so, so very much to learn about ministry with kids and families.  Goodness, I have so very much to learn just about being present with my own to children.

I had a wonderful time creating this squared circle today.  Yesterday was Candlemas or Imbolc, and we will observe it as a church group this coming Wednesday when our Wednesday evening programming starts up again.  Ah...This quiet month of January has been a real gift.

I feel vulnerable putting my drawings out for all to see.  I don't draw often, but I loved decorating and illuminating papers, t-shirts, books, etc. as a young person.  When I find the time it is something I still enjoy.

I guess another thing about me is that I a.d.o.r.e. opportunities to create mandalas of meaning for myself and, with this one, hopefully some in my church family.  The feasts and observances in this wheel are not all observed at church.  Many of them are my own personal feasts, or feasts my family and I have shared with friends.

Since childhood I've had a strong desire to sacramentalize (?) my time.  To dedicate it in intentional ways.  I love the support for doing so that I find in the various communities I'm part of.

Blessings to all as we circle through the year.  If you're a Rudolf Steiner fan, you'll notice that I'm (probably) heavily, but indirectly, influenced by him.  Much of this stuff is just so instinctive, don't you think?