Wisdom has built her house; she has made it strong with seven columns. She has cooked meat, mixed wine, and put food on the table. She has sent her servant girls to announce from the highest hill in the city, “Whoever needs instruction, come.” She invites all the simple people and says, “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have prepared. Leave your old, foolish ways and live! Advance along the path of understanding.”

Proverbs 9:1-6

Early in the morning, walking Max in the emerging light, I found myself thinking about some of the teaching opportunities I have on the horizon. 

For me, teaching is simply an extension of my own learning process, kind of like the way I prepare this blog. It’s not so much that I have these specific lumps of knowledge to deliver as that I am in discovery mode myself, that readers are privy to the process, and that we learn together.

All I add is an openness of spirit, a certain enthusiasm for the subject matter and – hopefully – a clarity of thought and expression that leads to the occasional “ah-ha!” at the other end.

One aspect of learning that helps us here at Maul-Hall is our commitment to A) Reading the scriptures together daily; and B) Making sure prayer is at the front end of everything, to the extent that Jesus is an active participant.

• “Lord, as I head out on our walk this morning, let me meet you in all I see.”
• “Thank you for this breakfast, and for our life together; be with us in our conversation.”
• “Please be a part of this meeting/project/email/task/challenge Jesus, grant me patience and wisdom.”
• “As I read the news today, direct my thoughts, my prayers and my actions in response to this broken world.”
• “These are challenging driving conditions, Lord, be with me as I navigate difficult conditions and difficult people.”
• etc. etc. etc…..

Prayer that is essentially an ongoing conversation with God becomes less a list of wants and more an active partnership. It is more likely that God’s light will fill me, and direct me, and strengthen me, and shine through me when my relationship to The Holy is intentional and present.

Currently, at breakfast, Rebekah and I are reading through the Gospel of Matthew together. Our companion book is “Prayers Encircling the World,” an anthology of prayer from literally every nation and culture and continent.

Today I know that God has something to show me, to teach me, to challenge me. It is more likely that I will learn if I am, first, paying attention.

In love, and the sure knowledge that God will teach us – DEREK