Boring
A
teacher wrote, “Why do you like/don’t like math?” and “why?” The student
circled “Don’t like” and then wrote, “takes too long,” and “boring!” Why did
the student so respond? Is the problem math? Nope. Math helps us keep track of
things like money, time, weather, property, and people. Life is a lot easier
when we know basic math. It’s practical! This is why we teach children to learn
it. The problem is not math, but the attitude toward it.
“Why do you/don’t you like
going to church?” Many would respond in the same way. “It takes too long!”
“It’s boring!” Many, however, have avoided prison because they remembered,
“Thou shalt not murder.” Many have avoided great family strife because they
remembered, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Like math, “Going to church” has practical
value that will help us avoid tremendous problems if we will listen and obey
the teaching. The problem is not “going to church,” but our attitude toward it.
That something is
“practical,” however, is still an immature attitude to take toward things of
great importance because one is still focusing on the benefit to ME! What can
math do for ME? What can “going to church” do for ME? With this attitude, one
has not advanced very far from declaring boredom. Boredom is a state of being
where we run out of things to entertain the self. It is narcissistic to be
bored because the sole focus is ME. Is there a better way? Yes.
“Let nothing be done
through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own
interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Focusing
on others helps us to learn math and “go to church.”
God bless you, and I love
you.
Kevin Cauley