Blog

Learning – Is it ever complete?

Author: Colin Buckland
Date: 19.08.2010
Category: Forming Leaders

Rate (0)

Currently 0.00/5

Favorite (0)

Translations

Submit New Translation
About translation

On a very recent trip to provide training to a missionary team in Europe, I ran into, once again, the “ I know what is needed” scenario. The team leader didn’t want to come to the training because he had arrived at the ‘knowledge’ point and nothing more was required. It reminded me of the former leaders of the US Patent Office in the 19th century, who had said to the government that they needed to close the patent office since everything that could be invented had now been invented. This has to go down as one of the most ridiculous statements ever made by a public servant especially since in the last 100 years the world has seen more change than in the past 10,000 years.

Leaders are often stressed to the point that learning may bring about additional stress and additional workload so some leaders are afraid to learn….so they don’t learn.

Some leaders fear that if they learn anything new it is possible that the new discoveries will be beyond them and so it seems better to avoid learning…..so they don’t learn.

Some leaders feel that they are so gifted and capable that they should teach and not learn. They have arrived and their pride stops them pursuing learning…..so they don’t learn.

Some leaders feel that all that they need will come directly from God in their devotional life…..and so they limit learning.

All this to say that without learning we will go on using the wisdom, or lack of, and effectively go around in circles. As Jesus interacted with the disciples it was obvious that life-long learning was the desired motif.

Reflect on these thoughts and ask yourself where you are in your life with regard to learning and perhaps even list some of the steps you have taken or will take to enhance your personal growth! Map your learning….you may be surprised……….!

Keywords: Leadership, learning, life-long learning

Conversation Post Comment

: Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down wallison (2)
United States

As I come to the close of another milestone in my life, I realize that graduating from college or school does not mean that you have aquired knowledge, understanding, or even application--rather it merely means that now you are almost prepared for the next phase of learning.

God’s people are so afraid of opening a book to discover the wealth of possibilities trapped in the meaning and usages of context within the Bible. It is as if to challenge an aged old interpretation of a Biblical passage is heresy as opposed to seeing God in a fresh new light. I pray that God’s people will allow the Spirit to move through knowledge and not be afraid.

14.07.2011

: Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down MzBoom (2)
United States
@ wallison:
What wonderful insight! I agree. If God is limitless, should not our learning be as well? Does it not state that we die for lack of knowledge?

16.07.2011

: Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Kevin_Thio (0)
Singapore

Thanks for your thoughts. I can identify with the fear of always needing to learn, but learning nontheless is a thing we must do.

How do we draw the line between learning and being content with what we have? The moment we stop learning it feels like we start dying.

I read an interesting article that i thought i’d like to share with all of us.

http://hbr.org/2010/07/how-will-you-measure-your-life/ar/1

br

kevin

11.10.2010

: Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down RagamuffinRese (3)
United States

Thanks for the exhortation to examine my intentional learning plan.

One of my favorite professors, Dr. Garth Rosell, said "The island of knowledge is surrounded by the shoreline of ignorance." We should be as comfortably aware of what we don’t know (or even can’t) know as what we do. It is good to live with a sense of One who is transcendant and still mystery - we still see through the glass darkly. This is especially important for those that others follow.

I would note that sometimes the issue is not that leaders don’t learn but they won’t.

24.08.2010