A Rudder, a Paddle, and a Sail Were In a Boat Together
The First Element of The Process of Transformation: Education
Note:
Here are the links to related articles in this series.
Studying and learning these things has helped me tremendously.
My hope and prayer is that you will also gain some useful ideas for your own life and then pass it on . . .
What exactly is โEducationโ
No one can โgetโ an education, for of necessity education is a continuing process and it is by no means limited to the classroom.
- Louis L'Amour
When the subject of education is brought up, most of us automatically think of sitting endlessly in a classroom listening to boring lectures.
Or slogging through countless expensive textbooks.
Or writing papers on useless subjects which get filed away in some black hole never to see the light of day again.
That scenario is one of the biggest reasons why most middle-aged folks don't even think about further learning.
That and the prohibitive cost of higher education these days keep many from pursuing further education.
Unfortunately, for most, education is a passive process - The primary means of instruction being whatever we happen to be watching on TV (aptly called the Boob Tube).
Life is like a boat
Say your life was like a boat that had no rudder, no paddle, or sail.
You would drift along at the mercy of whatever current of mindless entertainment you happen to be caught in at the moment.
We are constantly being molded by what we hear, see, and experience whether we realize it or not.
A Rudder
Just imagine what adding a rudder would do.
The Bible addresses the power of a small rudder in Jamesโ letter to the scattered Christians -
Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
James 3:4
With just a rudder, you have gained some ability to maneuver within that current.
Though you would still be traveling in the same general direction, you would have a measure of control.
A Paddle and a Rudder
Now, let's say someone saw your condition and threw you a paddle.
By adding just this one tool, a limited means of manual propulsion, you have doubled your capacity to direct your course.
Not only can you direct the boat within the current, but adding a paddle allows you to move in and out of the current.
You can even go against the current with a little more effort.
A rudder and paddle can be compared to our basic primary, secondary, and college education.
Unfortunately, society has been conditioned to think that once we have finished high school or college, our education is completed.
This is the point where the greatest danger for our lives to get way off course lies.
In previous articles, we addressed the condition of what I call Comfortable Misery.
This is where it starts.
Just hunker down and hope for the best.
A Sail, a Paddle, and a Rudder
But, what happens if you were to add a sail?
A rudder gives you limited steering ability.
A paddle adds more flexibility, albeit with a lot of hard work.
But, a sail . . .
A sail brings a whole new dimension to the scenario.
A sail is a means of self-propulsion.
Properly set, a sail will take the sailor wherever he desires to go.
It does not matter which way the current is going or the wind is blowing.
A skilled sailor who possesses a rudder, a paddle, and a sail has all the tools he needs to fully direct his course.
He can go with the current in a general direction.
He can utilize the paddle to take him in a more specific direction within the current, get out of the current, or even go against the current.
Or, he can use the wind to fill his sail and take him in whatever direction he chooses, while simply guiding the boat with the rudder.
Jim Rohn, one of my favorite Life Philosophers, had this to say about utilizing a sail to direct our course in life:
We all face the same winds of adversity. What makes the difference is how we set our sail!
A Sail represents all forms of non-formal education
To be clear, we're not talking about going back to school here.
I think of a sail as all the forms of non-formal education that are available.
Particularly in todayโs technology-driven world.
There is simply no excuse to stay where you do not want to be in life.
A basic formal school education may be a necessary starting point for some to get up to speed.
Acquisition of knowledge vs. classroom learning
Let's consider education in terms of the acquisition of knowledge vs. classroom learning.
What if you could get all the training or all the information you need to move forward in your life for free or at minimum a greatly reduced cost?
Your only significant expenses would be the time and effort invested.
That is possible today.
Active Personal Transformation uses all of these tools
The Rudder of Knowledge
The Paddle of Wisdom
The Sail of Understanding
Knowledge comes in many different forms, classroom education being only one of them.
With the advent of the Internet, knowledge is more affordable, more accessible, and more available than ever before.
It is literally at our fingertips โ more so than at any point in recorded history.
Personal transformation is about renewing our minds.
How we think affects every aspect of our lives.
How we think about ourselves affects the outcome of what we do.
Our view of the role of government affects how we function in society.
Our view of how others see us or think about us affects how we see ourselves and therefore our ability to achieve.
Education encompasses everything that produces spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical maturity and growth.
Education can be broken down into two broad categories: Formal & Informal
Formal (schools/job training, etc.)
Informal (self-directed/multi-faceted/active or passive).
Both are extremely important for success in life.
However, since the majority of readers probably have completed the formal part of their education, at least through the undergraduate stage, I want to focus more on informal education.
First, as a Christian (and even if you're not), you should become an avid student of the Bible.
It is amazing how practical it is for all areas of life.
For instance, did you know that in the first chapter of the Book of Joshua (the sixth book in the OT), we are given a very practical success formula?
In Joshua 1:8 we read,
This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
Of course, everyone wants success, but most are not willing to do the things required to be successful.
Reading is one of those things.
Reading is easy and simple.
Itโs free for the most part.
What is easy to do is also easy not to do
Most people would rather sit mindlessly in front of the TV, which is also easy, watching silly, fruitless, and even violent shows.
Others are addicted to sports or video games to the point where it affects their family relationships.
And they wonder why they can't get ahead in life.
Again, I refer to Jim Rohn who said something that has stuck with me ever since I heard it -
Formal education will make you a living, informal education will make you a fortune.
Take some time to think about that.
Now, you may be saying, โI am not looking to make a fortuneโ
Thatโs fine.
Success is achieving the desired outcome
The point we need to see is that continuous learning is useful no matter what your goal in life may be.
Whatever your calling, success depends upon your pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in your chosen area of expertise.
It is interesting that over and over again in the Proverbs we are taught that Wisdom is more important than riches.
Why is that?
Well, from my humble viewpoint, riches (read business, profession, career, investments, etc.) may disappear rather quickly.
We have certainly seen that happen over the last few years.
However, the knowledge and wisdom gained through building/running businesses, becoming experts in our career field, or learning and applying careful investment strategies is still there.
It can be reapplied to quickly rebuild what we have lost.
Knowledge gives us a huge advantage by allowing us to avoid an extended learning curve.
Education doesn't (or shouldn't) stop when you receive your diploma or degree.
Many times I have heard parents say about their children, โWell we got them through college. Glad that's out of the way.โ
Education gets checked off the bucket list of life, never to be actively pursued again.
Let me just say this โ if you have read these posts, and this one in particular, it is because you know deep down in your heart that you want more out of your life.
You want something to change and youโre willing to learn and do whatever it takes to make that happen.
Learning in some form or fashion, formal or informal, will continue until we die.
It is going on constantly in each of our lives through the practice and reinforcement of habits, which determine our patterns of life.
Positive or negative.
What you do now is the sum total of how you have lived your life up to this point.
What you are doing today will become part of that total tomorrow.
Sadly, most of what we learn is passive.
What if you took a more active role in how your life unfolds?
What if you did things deliberately, carefully mapping out a strategy to go in a certain direction?
What if you learned to set your sail in such a way as to go wherever you choose?
Doesn't it stand to reason that if you were able to direct what you learn and do today, who you become tomorrow would be much different?
Think about who you want to become
Iโve referenced the quote by Earl Nightingale before in his famous recording THE STRANGEST SECRET -
We become what we think about . . .
That is a powerful truth to grasp - that we can actually direct our path in life simply by redirecting our thinking.
Some takeaways from this article:
There are three elements of the Process of Personal Transformation: Education, Action, Motivation
Education is the first and most important element of the process of transformation
Education is not limited to the classroom
There are two broad categories of education: Formal and Informal
There are two modes of education: Active and Passive
Passive education is like being in a boat without a rudder, paddle, or sail. We are at the whim of the prevailing current.
Active education is like being in a boat whith a rudder, paddle, and a sail. We have the tools to determine our direction, regardless of the prevailing current.
When we fully grasp and actively apply the concept of โWe become what we think aboutโ, our lives will drastically change.
Letโs discuss -
Where are you in this process? It is never too late to change.
What are things that you have learned in your particular journey?
How have you looked at obstacles in the past as opposed to now?
Do you even know what direction you want to go/grow?
In the next post, weโll look more in-depth at formal and informal education, when they may be appropriate, and what they consist of.
Until next time, friends...