I finished the unit on multiplying and dividing with decimals and I was ready to tackle the order of operations. This was a new concept to me and at first it seemed easy enough. Yeah...(6+3)-3...simple. But it rapidly got tougher 12{3+4) +[7(14-8)-3]} and I was completely confused. My teacher worked with me some until a fellow classmate enthusiastically took over. She seemed to have a sound understanding of the concept and she really helped me. But I couldn't help but wonder how that happened because only two days earlier the teacher had given her flashcards to help her memorize multiplication facts. So I asked her the obvious question," If you don't know your multiplication facts, how is that you know how to do order of operations?" She explained that while she has never been able to memorize multiplication facts she does understand logic so she could easily understand order of operations. I've reflected on this experience many times over the last few days.
We each have God given talents. No one talent is more superior than another and no one person embodies all the gifts of God. We each have something to share with another and talents are specifically given so we might bless the lives of others. There are a myriad of ways to use them. This week I watched a fun little video of a missionary beat boxing at a Farmer's Market in Oregon. A very unique approach to attract some attention but it certainly did and who knows? Maybe someone will be more open to listening to their message because of it.
The hard part is recognizing the fact that no matter who it is that crosses our path they have something that can bless our life. The person who is younger or less experienced than we, the less educated, the less affluent, the disabled or the sick....whoever it is, they can help us learn and progress if we are humble enough to see and benefit from their gift from God.
It is through using our talents, that we gain more. In the parable of the talents the following is written:
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Then he that had received the five talents went and "traded" with the same, and made them other five talents.
Note the interesting choice of word, traded. That implies a giving as well as a taking of goods. Note that by giving the servant ends up with more, not less. It is the same for us. When we exchange our gifts, we come back better fit for his kingdom than we were.
Right now, I feel fortunate to be in a math class where every student needs help and where it is expected that if you understand a concept, you will help someone else find success. Were that same expectation was to all the world, what a different world this would be...oh, wait! Isn't that exactly what Christ has invited us to do, use our gifts and feed his sheep?
12 years ago
