I cannot remember when I learned to crochet. I know I was a child, and I know Mom taught me. I feel, though, as if I have always known. Now as I teach my girls to crochet, I cannot help but wonder at the challenges of learning. Did I struggle the same way? When was it not easy for me?
Something else challenges me, though. One of my daughters asked me for a pattern recently. I had to admit that I have never used a crochet pattern. Before I could teach her how to follow it, I had to learn. Exploring the terminology and stitch descriptions made me realize that I really do not know all that much about crocheting after all! I can handle the hook. I know the most common stitches. But I have missed so much technique, style, and pattern.
I also realized through all of this that I have never truly produced much of anything with my crocheting skills. I have no hats, scarves, or gloves to show off. I started an afghan as a teenager, but never finished it. Essentially, my crocheting skills have been wasted.
Is that reality ever reflected in my spiritual life? There are so many things I know…well, so many things I think I know. What if those things were challenged? What if my knowledge of suffering were challenged? If I were to truly face persecution, how would I respond? Would I really trust God in suffering?
What about my understanding of and familiarity with Scripture? If I had no Bible in hand to search through, or if I could not run my thoughts past my husband, would I still be able to share truths from God’s Word? Or would I be lost?
In many parts of the world, these challenges are reality. They are the way of life. Believers and churches thrive as they are bound together by the things they have not only learned, but truly know. Our Christian walk here in the United States is currently quite easy. But that does not give me an excuse to waste what I know spiritually.
I must show two responses.
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I must acknowledge that, no matter how much I know, there is still very, very much left to learn. I know the foundations of this walk, just as I know the foundational skill for crocheting. But there is much left to learn about the implementation, about following the pattern set before me by Christ, and about producing results.
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I must produce results. I cannot just have the ability to walk with Christ because of my knowledge of Scripture. I must actively go ahead and walk it. I must produce a life that reflects Christ.
What are you? Are you a Christian who knows the basics but has not learned how to follow a pattern? Or are you a believer who knows that there is constantly more to be learning, and you are actively pursuing that knowledge? Do you sit on your knowledge without producing results, or does your life product continually based on what you know right now?
I want to continually learn and constantly produce. Will you join me?
Not Quite Ordinary 