Shade Tree Wisdom 9/13/12

          Kipling wrote “Mandalay” which ends with this:

               “On the road to Mandalay,
                Where the flyin’ fishes play,
                An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China
                'crost the Bay”.

          But dawns sort of come slowly, first a faint lightening of the sky, then one can start to make out features, and finally, when the sun rises above the horizon, everything stands out clearly.

          Every teacher waits for that “AhA” moment, the time when a child suddenly says, “Now I get it”. Light breaks through and understanding is awakened. Learning is happening.

          It happens in religious confirmation class, in adult instruction classes, everywhere where lessons are taught and learning is done.

          It happens in life, doesn’t it? Get a new appliance of some sort, and the first thing you do is find out how it works by reading the manual that came with it or having your child show you.

          To this day, my grandchildren have been, and still are, so helpful when I have to find out something about the computer I use. And they have been most patient and never said, “O, I showed you that last week”.

          All this is what the Psalmist had in mind when he said,
               “The truths you wrote are wonderful
                That’s why I keep them.
                Your word is a door that lets in light
                And helps the simple person to understand”. Ps 119,129-130

          This process of learning is on-going; it is really life-long, a continuing growing in understanding. So St. Peter, who had said, “As long as I live I will always remind you of these truths even though you already know them.” ends his second letter to the Christians with these words:
               “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our
                Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory,
                both now and forever.” 2 Peter 3,18.

          As I finish this brief word, I just hope and pray that you are daily having your “AhA” moment as you study the word of God. May He bless such flashes of insight to enrich and strengthen your growing faith.

GPD 9/13/12