The Only Way to Learn

“Hola. Yo soy Valda y él es Dwayne, mi marido.”

This is the first Spanish sentence I’ve ever put together, although I haven’t actually said it to anyone yet. But I could if the situation came up where I needed to introduce myself and my husband to someone in Spain or Mexico.

We decided last year that when we become snowbirds, we will fly somewhere south with palm trees and tropical weather. So, I’d like to learn Spanish. It would be nice to communicate with the local people in their own language.

With no time to join a class, how could I make that happen? I discovered a book (while I love my e-reader, there’s just something about a bookstore…) that promised I could learn the new language in three months. Doubtful this could actually happen, I purchased it and brought it home. 

I laid my new book on the coffee table where I would see it and remember to read it… 

I moved it to the desk in the bedroom when we were tidying before entertaining guests… 

I brought it into the den and added it to a pile of books on the floor next to a comfy chair… 

And guess what? After two months of moving it around in our condo, I’d not learned Spanish. What a scam!

While the book didn’t fulfill its promise, it’s not the book’s fault. I peeked inside and saw lists of Spanish words and instructions. It includes little quizzes and opportunities to review. There’s even an accompanying app for my phone that pronounces the words. The tools are all there. Yet, I was no closer to asking how much something costs or where to find a washroom (unless you count miming the actions, which could look obscene). 

As much as I love books, maybe a book wasn’t the best option for my language acquisition. So, I downloaded an app that made similar promises. I was going to learn Spanish! For real. 

But I’m a busy lady, you know? 

I started receiving emails inviting me to open the app. Hidden on one of the many home screens on my phone, it was less visible than the brightly colored dust collector I’d been moving around. Yet, both were reminders of a skill I wanted to learn—a dream I had. This wasn’t a chore someone else was forcing me to do.

When I finally sat down today and opened the app on my phone, it asked how often I’d like to work on learning and the length of time I could commit to it. It was not imposing itself on me or threatening sleepless nights of studying. It left the decision to me so I could work around my current schedule. Could I actively learn for 15 minutes each day? That didn’t sound like an overwhelming commitment.

In my first session, I learned some greetings and basic words, many that I’d heard before. I found a blank journal and recorded sentences and special pronunciations. I repeated things aloud over and over.

If I bump into a random Spanish-speaking stranger in the coming days, I can now introduce myself and my husband. I can’t guarantee I won’t stumble over the words or insert a French pronunciation, but I think the person would understand me. And it only took 15 minutes.

The trainer in my fitness workout videos said something that caught my attention this week:

Decision does not mean TRY.

Decision means DO.

Autumn Calabrese

Buying the book and the app were steps to TRYING to learn Spanish. But if I want results, I have to DO. I have to act.

Open the book. Listen to the app. Learn the language. Now that I’ve begun my journey, I look forward to tomorrow’s lesson. Before long, I’ll be able to introduce myself AND ask where the washroom is located!

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There’s another book in that pile on the floor of my den that works the same way. If I move it from room to room, it will not teach me anything. But if I take the time to sit down with it and read it, I will learn a lot about God’s love and how I can live to glorify Him.

My Bible is a tool that will instruct me about living my best life. And that’s a lot more important than learning a new language. But, again, if I want results, I have to DO. 

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” A light is not useful unless it is lit. Regular reading of God’s Word is the DO necessary before we can be guided by it.

We also have to believe that the Bible is more than just an instructional book. We have to accept that it is God’s message to His creation, as the early church in Thessalonica did. 

Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

The last line emphasizes the importance of believing these are the words of God—only then will it begin to guide us and change us.

Do you make time to read God’s Word? Do you read it to learn? 

Happy Father’s Day to the best Father I could ever have. Thank You for Your love and generosity to me. As I read the Bible, help my understanding grow. Help me more fully comprehend what a wonderful Father You are and how to have an even closer relationship with You. Help me be a doer in my search for knowledge and instruction in Your Word.

Amen.

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