Learning without doing

Yesterday Seth Godin wrote a short but simple blog post:

​“Learning without Doing. It’s certainly possible. But it’s unlikely you could learn to ride a bike by watching a lot of videos about it. Or teach a toddler to walk. In fact, it’s unlikely that you could learn to sell, to design useful objects or to solve interesting problems either. You can try to learn without doing. But why?”

I can learn a lot about Jesus by reading the Bible, but I can’t really understand what he did, or the impact he made, without at least trying to do it myself. To walk in his shoes by loving and caring for others beside myself.

Seth ends this small yet powerful observation by asking (or stating) “But why?” A great question/statement that resonates with me. And it still sits on my heart as I try to figure out this blog. I could write about people connecting with strangers in their communities. Or I could just go learn it myself without actually doing anything. But why?
When
I could experience it.
You could experience.
We could experience it together.

And isn’t that the point? To experience this life, in all of its fullness, together. The Kit-Kat theory...better to share the goodness...life is more fun when we experience it with others. It’s why Tom Hanks befriended Wilson the volleyball in the movie “Castaway.” The Dessert Father’s, who lived in isolation, would gather once a week to share a meal and any spiritual breakthroughs they may have had. We are not meant to be alone.

God came to live among us in human flesh and in our broken humanity. God experienced us as we experience one another. In the flesh, Jesus ate and smelled and drank and burped just like we did. He walked, ran, and if it had been around back then, I’m sure he’d have ridding a bike, a skateboard, and a motorcycle.

I imagine God already knew how to do all this human stuff. I’m sure God could have watched a video on YouTube if not. But instead God came to us, vulnerable and weak, to live and die with us. And when we experience Jesus, we too live and die and are raised up to glory with him.