Surface To Soul

My two boys began another year of school on Tuesday. As I was taking my oldest son to his first day of high school, I asked him, “What do you hope to learn this year?” After sharing a few thoughts, he asked me, “Dad, what are you planning to learn this year?”
Great question! I shared with him the books I wanted to read, the conferences I planned to attend, and a few of the the people I wanted to surround myself with who inspire me, challenge my assumptions, and provide my with new angles of vision for ministry. Then my son asked me a more significant question, “So what will you do with all that learning?” I shared that my learnings would help me become more like Christ, more creative and visionary, more adept with addressing organizational dysfunction, and more effective in helping others live into their vocation.

So often we address the “what” in our lives without addressing the “why.” It’s the why that empowers us to learn and develop new skills. If your desire is to be a more effective leader, then what do you need to learn, and what skills do you need to develop? If you wish to be a more intentional follower of Christ, then what support might you need or what practices might you seek to develop? Please share what motivates you to learn along with a few of your learning plans or strategies for the coming year.