Learning

So I've been doing a lot of thinking lately on how I learn best - when your daily job is to cram as many facts about the human body (or really any topic you learn about as a student) into your head, you can't help but think about just how that works a little bit :) In all of my pondering, I've realized that I learn things in 2 majors ways: repetition and getting things extremely wrong. I've known this about myself for a while, but for some reason this week, when I was flipping through my flashcards in between surgery cases, all of the sudden it hit me (and made me chuckle a bit): I learn spiritual truths in the exact same way that I learn facts.

1. Repetition.
The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation. ~ Numbers 14: 18

And if the Lord has to forgive us over and over again patiently, you know what that means: we must struggle with the same sins over and over again. In late high school and early college, I remember this point being particularly frustrating to me - I even recall sitting in Panera with my bible study leader as a college freshman being completely exasperated that I couldn't just "get over" certain sins and be completely sancitified in certain areas of my life immediately (perfectionist much?). Not only has time taught me that the personal refining process is completely dependent on the Lord and not my own effort, but also that there is a sweetness in learning to rely on the Lord and depending on Him as He shapes me into the woman He created me to be (it's much better than flashcards - as hard as I try, I can't really find any sweetness associated with those...). Don't get me wrong, this whole refining process (once dubbed Betsy-allurgy by a wise and particularly funny person I know) isn't always super fun, but bit by bit, the impurities slowly get sifted (melted) out, and we get to be shiny and radiating the Lord's glory: pretty amazing stuff.

2. Getting things really really wrong.
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ~2 Corinthians 12:7-9

A big part of the learning in Med school is via the socratic method (aka being pimped in front of your entire team, in the hopes that if you don't know the answer to a question, you'll definitely remember it later due to the embarassment factor). As nervous as it makes me to be grilled on different types of vasculitis on rounds (ugh!), let me tell you - I remember it later. Same applies to my spiritual life. One of my least favorite things is being overly open and honest with spiritual areas that I've significantly struggled with. Trust me - I'm all pro real-talk, but does that really mean that I need to share with other people exactly the ways that I dishonor the Lord and am the most ugly? I think a lot of times, the answer can be yes. Not only does it help us learn to get over our pride in our own reputation, but it also magnifies the Lord even more by showing how He can work through our weaknesses. Basically, the more I mess up, the more I see how far short I fall from the Lord's glory, the more I learn the ultimately lesson about the Lord's perfection and glory ("What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" ~Romans 6:1-2).

So my prayer for us this morning is to think about how we learn best spiritually. It's not an easy process, but my hope and prayer is that by beginning to recognize how the Lord may be teaching us, we can stop resisting His efforts, give in, and let Him transform us into an image of Himself!

Fellowship

Most days when I write, I have a particular message or meaning that the Lord is placing heavy on my heart to share.  Today I have no real message but just a reflection on the incredible fellowship of girls that the Lord has blessed me throughout my past year and a half in Washington, D.C.  I hope that it resonates with some of you, but mostly, I just want to express my gratitude to the Lord and to these sweet girls who have stood by me through thick and thin.

There is nothing more encouraging than sitting around with a wonderful group of girlfriends, snacks within arm’s reach, mug of tea in hand, Bible in lap, pen poised to jot down doses of wisdom.  Last night was my weekly girls’ Bible study, an hour and a half that I absolutely treasure each week. 

Aside from my roommate Libby, I see these sisters just once a week for Bible study.  Outside of Wednesday nights, our lives seldom overlap.  They’re scattered around Arlington and Alexandria, while Libby and I are parked in D.C.  They all have busy lives and different groups of friends and coworkers whom I’ve never met.  They have sisters and brothers and parents whom I’ve never even seen.  They come from different cities, different states, different colleges, and different lives.  And yet for those 1.5 hours on Wednesday nights, we are the closest of friends.  We talk, we laugh, we cry, we struggle, we challenge, we encourage, we process.

What I love the most about our cozy group is the way God brought each individual to the group.  A few of us joined the group through our church last year.  Some came at the recommendation of a mentor or a friend.  Others joined halfway through the year and brought with them a whirlwind of joy and wonderings.  Some got married and moved away.  New sisters joined as roommates changed and time marched steadily on. 

Each of us brings something different to the group.  Some are new believers, while others have known Him since they were small.  Some are single, some engaged, some dating.  Some are quietly wise, while others bring passion and emotion.  But the one thing that ties us together is our hearts of love for our Lord and Creator.    

Week by week, we come together.  Week by week, we bring our troubles, our joys, our prayers, our praises.  We come with empty souls, baring the weight of the world on our shoulders; we leave with hearts bursting with joy. 

It is in reflecting on this weekly tradition that I realize fully what God meant by fellowship.

This is what Jesus meant when He said, “Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there I am with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

This is what  1 Thessalonians 5:11 means: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

This is what Hebrews 10: 24-25 talks about:  “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
This is what 1 Corinthians 14:26 meant with, “What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.”

Jesus is the common thread in each of these girls’ lives.  He is the only reason we know each other, we love each other, we carry one another’s burdens.  We were created to live in fellowship with Him, encouraging each other to keep our hearts and minds fixed on Him.

I encourage you, if you are not already experiencing the fellowship that Scripture speaks of, to find a group today.  If your church doesn’t offer a Bible study, find a friend and start your own.  Dive into Scripture with some girlfriends.  I promise that you won’t be disappointed!