One of our dearest Orange Moon readers is a calculus teacher who, in her retirement, teaches other calculus teachers.
Phyllis is conducting a workshop this weekend, which led me to wonder about the cumulative IQ of her and those to whom she will be speaking. I suspect it's off the charts, and what with my aversion to higher math (I became hopelessly lost after Algebra 1/2, which would have been Algebra I if my faulty brain hadn't led me astray during the second semester of the course), I think I would feel pretty intimidated in the company of such mental firepower.
It's a good thing to regularly find yourself in the presence of people you know to be much smarter than yourself. You're properly humbled, of course, but even more, you remember the One whose "understanding is infinite," and upon whom we all depend for knowledge, wisdom, and applied understanding (Psalm 147:5).
"For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6).
I suspect that not all of Phyllis's students this weekend are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. All, however, are utterly dependent on Him to fulfill their lofty calling to teach calculus. They may not know it, and they may even reject the notion that God gifted and gifts them in a special way. "In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9). Calculus teachers, however, like people in every discipline and responsibility, ply their trade in the illumination provided by the Source of all life, being, and activity. "In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Those like Phyllis who know such Truth to be true experience the blessedness not only of mathematical knowledge and understanding, but also of the wisdom whereby a proper humility graces both heart and mind. As the Apostle Paul declared of his high calling, "By the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all. Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (I Corinthians 15:10).
From the elementary truth of 1 + 1 = 2 (my kind of math!), to the most advanced levels of calculus, to every aspect and form of received and applied truth, the brains of all require the light of God to function and endure. How sad to be the subject of such Divine enabling, but not to know it! And how joyous to live in the reality of the Lord's gracious bestowal of knowledge and understanding, accompanied by the wisdom that bows both mind and heart to acknowledge the Giver of life and breath and all things! (Acts 17:25). I rejoice that the teacher of the aforementioned calculus workshop this weekend knows and rejoices in the Light of reality, and I'm sure that Phyllis will appreciate your prayers for God's leadership and enabling.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."
(Proverbs 1:7)
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
(Proverbs 9:10)
Phyllis is conducting a workshop this weekend, which led me to wonder about the cumulative IQ of her and those to whom she will be speaking. I suspect it's off the charts, and what with my aversion to higher math (I became hopelessly lost after Algebra 1/2, which would have been Algebra I if my faulty brain hadn't led me astray during the second semester of the course), I think I would feel pretty intimidated in the company of such mental firepower.
It's a good thing to regularly find yourself in the presence of people you know to be much smarter than yourself. You're properly humbled, of course, but even more, you remember the One whose "understanding is infinite," and upon whom we all depend for knowledge, wisdom, and applied understanding (Psalm 147:5).
"For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6).
I suspect that not all of Phyllis's students this weekend are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. All, however, are utterly dependent on Him to fulfill their lofty calling to teach calculus. They may not know it, and they may even reject the notion that God gifted and gifts them in a special way. "In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9). Calculus teachers, however, like people in every discipline and responsibility, ply their trade in the illumination provided by the Source of all life, being, and activity. "In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Those like Phyllis who know such Truth to be true experience the blessedness not only of mathematical knowledge and understanding, but also of the wisdom whereby a proper humility graces both heart and mind. As the Apostle Paul declared of his high calling, "By the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all. Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (I Corinthians 15:10).
From the elementary truth of 1 + 1 = 2 (my kind of math!), to the most advanced levels of calculus, to every aspect and form of received and applied truth, the brains of all require the light of God to function and endure. How sad to be the subject of such Divine enabling, but not to know it! And how joyous to live in the reality of the Lord's gracious bestowal of knowledge and understanding, accompanied by the wisdom that bows both mind and heart to acknowledge the Giver of life and breath and all things! (Acts 17:25). I rejoice that the teacher of the aforementioned calculus workshop this weekend knows and rejoices in the Light of reality, and I'm sure that Phyllis will appreciate your prayers for God's leadership and enabling.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."
(Proverbs 1:7)
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
(Proverbs 9:10)
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