The song “Not in a Hurry” by Will Reagan and United Pursuit has a line in it that says, “I’m learning to listen, just to rest in your nearness, I’m starting to notice, you are speaking”.
This line speaks to me every time I listen to the song, because whenever the lie that I think I know enough or have learned it all creeps into my head, I am reminded that I am still learning.
My team and I have been living in the Amazon Rainforest for the past week. We live on a tributary of the Amazon River and our lifestyle here is very minimal. We take showers with buckets and rainwater, we only have power from 6pm-9pm, and we wash our clothes by hand. We sleep in bug nets and never stop sweating.
When we first arrived here I quickly learned that I am still learning. I had to learn how to wash my clothes by hand and how to flush the toilet with a bucket. I had to learn how to deal with the fact that I sweat 24/7 and how to deal with the worst bug bites I have ever had. I had to learn how to find entertainment such as watching the tarantulas that live in our house walk around on the ceiling or learning new card games so that I could spend more quality time with my teammates.
All the physical things that I had to learn here reminded me that there are still many spiritual things that I need to learn or am in the process of learning.
I am still learning how to show grace when I don’t always want to and how to pour into the people around me. I am still learning the act of self discipline and practicing obedience. I am still learning how to actively listen to those around me and how to have patience. I am still learning new characteristics of God and the ways he sees me each time I open up his word.
Ultimately, I desire to live in such a way that I seek out knowledge relentlessly and pursue growth each day.
I am still learning and will always be in the process of learning, and sometimes I just need to get thrown out of my comfort zone and live in the jungle to be reminded of that.
