Copyright ©2018 by The Good Elder. All rights reserved.
Many who were raised in oppressive or economically disadvantaged environments were taught that getting an education always enables and empowers the seeker to move onward and upward. However, some are reluctant or afraid to pursue self-improvement via education for several reasons. Some feel like their financial struggles put getting an education out of reach. Others have taken on the hopelessness of their circumstances and feel that an escape is not possible. Finally, there are those who are afraid to leave due to fears of being envied, sabotaged or maligned by others due to jealousy; or conversely, feel like they're being disloyal because they don't want to stay in a depressed environment with those who can't (or won't) leave. As I pondered this social dynamic, the following musings came forth.
Those of us who have endured the rigors of high school have come to experience that relief of being almost finished, and the complacency that it can invoke. A word has been coined to describe this condition: senioritis! The danger, of course, in succumbing to this way of thinking is that, as we learned in the story of "The Tortoise and the Hare", slacking up at the end jeopardizes our ability to finish strong (or to finish at all).
The weariness is certainly understandable, in that the student has spent the vast majority of his life in school, with no tangible benefits, and without the vision to see why such an effort and sacrifice is worth it. So, we encourage the student to hang tough for a few more months, because some things, you don't want to have to learn the hard way! Some things, we just have to take on faith!
Yet, some students will still say, "Well, I won't need to know Algebra after I graduate," or, "I won't have to write research papers once I start my career..." Of course, they won't know what skills or training they will or won't need; but it's always better to have and not need, than to need and not have. Particularly, with education, the more you have, the easier it is for one to move (both regarding location and career advancement).
This, of course, has its parallels to the spiritual world and our quest to ascend higher toward the Throne of His grace. This advancement is called upward mobility.
The scripture found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is one of the more familiar and profound among the Children of Israel, as it expresses the "common watchword and slogan," "Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is One" (from the Hebrew translation). In the same breath as this declaration is the instruction, i.e. the command to "teach it to the children" constantly:
"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
In Judaic circles, there is a strong emphasis is on study and learning. They have almost no preaching, because truth is self-evident (or should be). The prevailing sentiment is, one should not have to be convinced to coerced or compelled to do right or live right. The burdens we incur by not living right should prove the point to us. Or, as I often say, "After you believe, then what?" Will you do, because knowing alone won't save you.
Still, God's plan seems designed to take the "I didn't know" excuse out of our mouths. "If you didn't memorize it, didn't you see that mezzuzah, or those fringes, or phylacteries? And if it isn't incumbent upon/natural to you to accept and embrace these commandments, then maybe you're not part of Israel (and don't qualify for those extra blessings). My sheep know My voice..."
The command is to start teaching the youth, so that our children can learn to make use of life experience as a teacher as soon as possible. Children are the most receptive to instruction and new ideas, and have active imaginations. This is one reason why Jesus said, "Except ye accept as a little child..." This doesn't mean that one needs to be immersed or join a congregation at a young age, but it refers to one being open minded, receptive, curious, and inquisitive.
Society all around the world is structured so that young people spend most of their time learning. Except in exceptional cases, the heavy responsibilities of life are not put on children (bills, house maintenance, etc.) so that they can focus on learning--and fun. Certainly, there are challenges and distractions which can act as deterrents to children doing well in school (absentee parents, low income, gangs, sex, violence), but even those in so-called disadvantaged situations can more easily overcome and escape those situations with a good education.
Unlike material things, no one can take education from you! If you know how to do, and more importantly, know how to think, dream, and imagine, your cognitive ability will be highly sought after. As Montel Williams told me, "Knowledge pays." The more you know, the higher you can go. You can go all over the world and your skills will be valued. You won't be stuck in a dead-end job, living in a place you don't want to be. But, no matter how far you go, no matter how much money you make, no matter how much acclaim and esteem you gain, forget not the Rock from which you were hewn, nor the bridge that brought you across!
This is where we, as parents and caregivers come in. It is our responsibility to teach it to the children! Proverbs tells us, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
The Law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul. It covers ever aspect of life, from birth to death. The better they know it, the better prepared they will be to deal with the vicissitudes of life.
Children certainly need to know how to add and subtract, multiply and divide, read and write; but we must also teach right and wrong, manners, discipline, and respect. We must teach them how to handle success and disappointment. We must teach them how to celebrate life and how to mourn death. We must teach them how to sail and fly in good times, but also how to persevere and endure in hard times.
We must remember, however, that we cannot teach what we don't know. As one of my mentor's said, "You can't talk about what you don't know about." We must also remember that children follow our example more than they listen to what we say.
It doesn't matter how much you read the Bible with your children, or how often you bring them to worship services. If they often hear you on the phone gossiping, if they frequently see you with a cigarette or with a drink... if they see a revolving door of men/women in your house/bed, if they see you freak out (instead of pray) when trouble comes, how will they ever learn to do right and to trust in God?
We need to be in the business of raising independent, capable, confident, God-fearing children, because we won't always be with them. In fact, the goal is that they stand on their own and not depend on us for anything except love, kindness, and wisdom.
Not only must we know and live God's Law so that we can properly raise and instruct our children, we must learn it better every day for our own sake! I was taught that while it is up to God to decide which instrument He wants to use, our job is to make ourselves into the best instrument possible.
We should not be satisfied or comfortable merely with a church service, lively as it may be. "God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." We must not become complacent in what we think we know about God, or become complacent because of who our family is, or because we come to services frequently, or because we memorized a few Bible verses. God is not in our name, God is not limited to a place of worship, God does not live in the Bible or other sacred text; He dwells in the hearts of good people who diligently seek Him!
Just like with secular education, the more we know of the ways of God and the spirit, the higher we can go in our spiritual pursuits, understanding, and attainment. We won't be relegated to following the crowd because we don't know how (or are too afraid) to stand on our own.
People like to please other people; people are not often comfortable being different from the crowd. But if there is no peculiarity, how do we set ourselves apart to be used by and blessed by God? How do we distinguish ourselves if we're so busy trying to be like everyone else? As Jesus taught, "Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted?"
Bishop William S. Crowdy, a prophet of God, set up a mystery school disguised as a church, chock full of truth cloaked in symbols and rituals. But, God is not in the symbols, and God is not in the rituals. God is merely described by and pointed to by these by-products.
We adults, like the children, need to get an education--we need to get to know God, and not be satisfied with just knowing about God. We get to know God in moments of quiet contemplation and meditation. We get to know God even in the midst of grievous trials and tribulations that test but do not consume us. In order to know, we must seek! Everything won't be given or spoon-fed to us. Sometimes, we will have to strive and go get it so that we're not stuck with "a FORM of godliness, but without the power thereof."
The more we commune with Him, the better we know Him, and the more upward mobility we have. Let we forget, the Bible is chock full of this command. He let us suffer, and then He gave us prosperity, that we might know that He is God. He suffered us to be sick, but then He gave us healing, that we might know that He creates healing, for He is the LORD of wonders and is revered in praises. He suffered us to be in bondage, but then He delivered us from slavery unto freedom, that we might know that, in every age, the LORD has been our hope. He rescued us from enemies who sought to destroy us.
We all need to know God, the Source from Whom all blessings flow; we need to know God, the One Who gives us songs in the night. We need to know God, the One Who makes a way in the wilderness. To find peace amid troubled waters, we need to know God, to find safety in the lion's den, we need to know God. To enjoy upward mobility and ascend toward His Throne of grace, we need to know God. And, every day, with every blessing and with every trouble, we need to come to know Him a little bit better.
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