From Dr. James K. A. Smith*: What if the primary work of education was the transforming of our imagination rather than the saturation of our intellect? What if education wasn’t first and foremost about what we know, but about what we love? (18)
These past weeks have been very exciting for me. For some time I have been contemplating the writing of a book. That contemplation has centered on a number of very important and influential works by other writers, including:
Addiction and Grace by Gerald G. May, M.D.
The Spirituality of Imperfection by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham
The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization by Peter M. Senge
Introverts in the Church by Adam S. McHugh
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Saving Jesus from the Church by Robin R. Meyers
Walking on Water: Self-Esteem and a Journey of Faith by Robert R. Ball
Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
Two additional volumes culminated my journey to this point. They are:
Desiring the Kingdom by James K. A. Smith
Teaching and Christian Practices edited by David I. Smith and James K. A. Smith
All of these, and others, have led to the offering of two experiential learning opportunities that will be offered at Covenant Presbyterian Church (3003 Northland Drive) in Austin, Texas beginning in September.
Becoming– Sunday mornings at 9:30 beginning on September 9 – Practice being a new creation in a fallen world by deeply exploring the patterns of worship.
Human Beings Anonymous – Monday evenings at 6:30 beginning on September 10 – A fellowship for people practicing, one day at a time, how to overcome their common problems of worry, control, and exhaustion.
I very much hope that many of you will be able to join us for what I believe might be a life changing opportunity for learning by doing.
This post opened with words from James Smith – and – so it will close:
Our identity is shaped by what we ultimately love or what we love as ultimate – what, at the end of the day, gives us a sense of meaning, purpose, understanding, and orientation to our being in the world. What we desire or love ultimately is a vision of what we hope for, what we thinkt he good life looks like. (27)
tmitchellmusic 