Parallels: Home and Spiritual Renovation–Learning

The best tradespeople and home renovators are the ones who are constantly learning about and adding new products and techniques to their repertoire. They are humble enough to know their limitations and are willing to learn from others. Learning new construction skills requires not only knowledge but also practice! I learned many new skills while building our addition and basement finishing. Here are just a few:

1)         Outdoor fencing: I had experience with concrete and poured footings but had to learn how to layout and assemble the components of a fence from my son and from viewing online video tutorials. As we went along, I became increasingly skilled at the installation, and my son’s yard fencing turned out great.

2)         Pex plumbing: My past experience involved sweating (soldering) copper tubing and brass fittings. My brother-in-law introduced me to Pex plastic plumbing tubing, supplies, and tools. With my brother-in-law’s advice and some practice on my own I was able to accomplish a leak-free plumbing job for the new kitchen and bathroom.

3)         Ceramic backsplash installation: Talking with others, learning about the right tools and skills, practicing, and taking my time enabled me to complete an installation that looked appealing.

Spiritual Learning

To be a learner means we have made the decision to listen to, absorb, practice, and live out practices, knowledge, skills, and even a lifestyle modeled after something or someone. Another word for intentional learning and training is “discipline.”

It’s been said that we are all disciples of something—we learn, practice, and live the things we follow and take into our minds and souls. Many people, things, and viewpoints try to capture our attention and life, both good and bad. We must choose who or what to follow, which will profoundly affect our lives and future.

My faith is founded on God’s truth that we are set free only when we turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and a new life with God. It is not based on efforts, which always fall short and leave us empty. With that stated, I have also made the decision to spend time with God and learn from Jesus every day. Nurturing that relationship is part of a daily discipline that restores and strengthens me as I learn more and grow with God. Prayer, reading from the Bible, being with other Christ-followers, and other practices are tools that God gives to help us know Him more and equip us for life. Putting it into practice—through serving others, giving our time and resources, and loving people—is also essential to integrating what we learn from God into our lives. Just as skills and techniques in construction are solidified through practice, so are new ways of living with God through putting them to use. Here’s what the Apostle Paul wrote to his fellow Christ-followers:

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9)

I am far from perfect, but I am grateful to God and the people He has put in my life, who have helped refine me and make me a better person each day. God can do the same for you, regardless of where you are today. I offer this promise from the Bible to anyone who turns to Jesus for life and learns from him:

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6)

I hope you will allow God to do that for you!

God bless you!

Chris Atkins