2:101 – I’m Ignorant AND I want to Learn

#faithbites #faithjourney ignorant

When I learned about Leonardo da Vinci, I wanted to be like him. I wanted to be a renaissance man. Someone who excelled in so many different fields and was seen as an expert in just about everything. That was before I realized how much new knowledge there was then versus Leonardo’s time, not to mention how much has changed in the past 20 years.

Sometimes I post a new term that I haven’t heard and people think I’m sheltered or ignorant. At first I was angry about it, but then I realized, they are right. I am ignorant on so many things, but I want to learn. Tell me a new term and I’ll research it. If I make a cultural faux pas, feel free to look that one up if you want, I want ot know why. I will then research it.

Today was a prime example of this. We were working on content for an upcoming course and someone asked about a patient who happened to be “Sioux Indian”. I knew that you shouldn’t say Indian but rather Native American. My question was is there a reason she was made to be Sioux vs another tribe. I figured they just picked one. After talking to a few people I learned there was differences between tribes and clans, and practices among the clans. So in this case the patient being Sioux was very different than another tribe. I am had no idea. So now, I know and want to learn more.

Life is full of examples like this. If we chose to be learners when we find out we don’t know, rather than defenders of our ignorance, we can all grow together.

Scripture

• The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, – Acts 17:30
• If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. – James 1:5

Reflection

God doesn’t punish us for being ignorant. In Acts, we see that God has overlooked our ignorance. We then see that know our ignorance is gone, we must repent. In James, we see that if we are ignorance we should ask God for the knowledge and he will give it to us.

There is no shame in being ignorant. There is no way for all of us to know everything. That is why we need each other and grow with each other. If we are purposefully ignorant and don’t learn, that’s another story all together.

In my life, I”m opened my mouth and inserted my foot up to the knee at times by saying stupid things. They were not done to hurt but because I didn’t know. I will always seek to understand, I just need a friendly person to help me erase my ignorance.

Charge

Be kind to yourself. Not knowing is ok. Not caring is not. If you make a mistake due to ignorance, apologize. See if you can learn from that. Research a topic and grow. If someone wrongs you because they don’t understand or know, forgive them and help them to learn.

Prayer

Almighty Father, you are so much more than we can ever understand. Our human minds can’t comprehend each other in full let alone understand you. Help us to be kind to each other. Allow us to learn from our mistakes. Give us patience with ignorance and help us to help others grow. In your name, Amen