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December 29, 2009

Learning Curves

by by Caryn Rivadeneira

If my life had a theme for 2009 it was this: Learning curves. Specifically, learning curves of the steep and tricky, zippy, herky-jerky type. Though this theme wouldn’t have occurred to me if it weren’t for the sales guy at the Apple store yesterday. I had gone because the screen of my current laptop is sporting a nice crack that allows me to see only the top two-thirds diagonal of the screen. And everyone and their mother seems to be telling me now is the right time to switch back to the Mac.

So, anyway, yesterday as I quizzed the sales guy on exactly why the Mac would transform my life as I know it, I leaned in to hear his wisdom above the buzz of the crowds. After pointing out various features and “cool stuff,” the poor guy just said the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time: “The learning curve can be pretty steep for those coming from PC to Macs….”

Ach. My body tensed. My heart raced. The sales guy lost his sale. While normally I am big on learning and while normally I would not fear the week or two “transition” it would take for me to get used to a new operating system (and frankly, while normally I would doubt it would take me that long), I could not deal with another learning curve. Not this year.

That’s when it hit me that this year has been all about the learning curves. In a season of my life when I thought I’d have had so much more figured out, 2009 seems to have thrown everything up in the air and out the window. There have been twists and turns I sort of expected (like learning how to market my book) to those I never saw coming (like learning how to married to a man running for public office).

Most of the things I’ve had to learn have been great. All have been challenging and exhausting. Each has left me wondering just what God has up his sleeves for me and in my life.

But the more I thought about this yesterday, another theme for my 2009 emerged: Story. This one has been more blatant as it was the actual theme of three conferences I attended (it was the actual NAME of one of them). It started last March at GFL’s Synergy conference, where we heard about finding God in our stories. Then this fall, I heard more about the importance of telling our stories so people could find God in them. As a writer, certainly none of this was new to me, but still: that it was being hammered into my head made me stop and think: Maybe God was trying to tell me something.

As these theme intersected in my brain—and as I sat down at my cracked laptop to plunk out thoughts on this—I realized that in every talk I heard on the power of Story, learning curves were at the heart of those stories. Whether it was about a Bible hero learning just how mighty and radical her God was or a “regular” person learning, well, the same thing, these stories that I was told we should look at or tell were about God in the mix of our learning curves. About where God is as we speed along, herking and jerking. About where he is when we nearly collapse with exhaustion, weary from all this learnin’. Where he is when we beg, “Please no more. Can we just coast for a while?”

And this all made me smile. Because as crazy as this year has been (and, if I’m honest, as crazy as most of this decade has been!) it’s been a time in which I feel God growing me and using me, and it’s exactly what I always pray he’ll do.

I think it’s what all of us should pray for as leaders—that God will keep us learning and growing and stretching so that we can take our gifts, our talents, our ministries and make them honor him in the best ways possible. Even if they’re ways we never saw coming. Or even if they are.

So, that’s where I’m at. I’m wondering if this means I need to go back and talk to the Mac guy again (feel free to offer your input). Or maybe it means I need to stop praying for a season of coasting—and keep praying for learning curves.

What have you been learning this year? What are you hoping to learn in 2010?

P.S. If you’d like to hear more about the ways learning curves intersect with our story, check out this year’s Synergy Conferences: Jan. 23 in Chicago and March 5-7 in Orlando.

Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on December 29, 2009 3:46 PM

Comments

Yes, Caryn. My kids all tell me regularly, "Get a Mac!" My tech support at work can tell me many reasons to stick with a PC. Since he is the one I depend on, I still have a PC. Speaking of learning curves--you should read my 50-year ones in my latest Facebook post:http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=app_2347471856&ref=name&id=1330714433#/note.php?note_id=256691821487.
(I really do need to learn to use that tiny url thing.)

Posted By: Judy D | December 29, 2009 4:44 PM

Caryn,
As a Mac afficionado for all these many years, I think you talked to the wrong Mac guy at the wrong time. In fact ours is a Mac family-- from iMacs (Merry Christmas), to iBook, Macbook, iPods, and iPhones. They are a valuable part of our everyday and are very easy to use and learn. You shouldn't expect more than a bunny hill of "learning curve". Come, we'll show you. You'll be glad you did!

Posted By: Tony Bravo | December 30, 2009 10:09 AM

One thing I learned in 2009 is that life is best lived in response to God. I am an infomaniac. I love to read, learn, and study. However, for the past 10 or so years, I’ve limited my information input (mostly) to (1) what I want to know, and (2) what God wants me to know. I’ve quieted my world and what "they say" as much as possible so I can hear Him. In November I received an invitation I didn’t want to accept, but when I heard the Holy Spirit say, “I am in this,” I responded against my lazy and selfish will. And wow! 2010 looks to be the year of fruition for years of labor.

In 2010 I hope to learn that I can do more than I feel capable of or even want to do all because of Christ in me.

PS - Sorry. I don’t want to know about Mac vs PC, so I can’t help you. But thankfully, others can!

Posted By: Rebecca Stuhlmiller | January 1, 2010 10:22 AM

Dear Caryn,
New year's Day I sat beside my wood burning stove and tore one page at a time from my 2009 calendar and threw them into the fire. I didn't do this with an attitude of anger or regret - but more celebratory likened to the completion of a difficult marathon run. It was a tough year for me. I looked at each month noticing the Dr. appointments - scheduled tests - surgery date that filled Feb. through April. I saw ski trips crossed out and hair appointments cancelled because I was home bound. I reflected on a breathing period of slowly entering back into my old routines of life May, June, July...these pages were filled with activity and I recalled my anxiousness to make up for lost time. Then the mission trip in August. A great trip except for the accident that injured my back/hip/leg. I felt like crying as I looked at calendar pages August, September, October, November - once again filled with Dr. appointments, tests, MRI, Scans, and Physical Ther. three times a week. Home bound - dependent on my dear husband, children, mom and friends. My heart sank when looked at my marker decorated 25th wedding anniversary date inked over with my 11:00 appointment reminder with Bob my P.T. December brought two sons home from college, more internet shopping than walking all over the malls. I baked less cookies and accepted the invitation to go my mother's house for Christmas Eve instead of having everyone to our home. It was good for me to sit by the fire and say good-bye to 2009 with a heart of gratitude that I had a season of struggle but I didn't go through it alone. Christ was so very with me as well as my husband,family and friends. I learned so much during my time of not doing and silence. There were some pretty tough but life changing moments. A lot of learning and humbling. I found pleasure in more simple daily needs - I was in good shape if my clothes were comfortable and I had my bible and journal by my side. No doubt I don't enjoy being in pain or confusion over the why's - but what I did gain through it honestly was much needed and appreciated. So I went through the fire in 2009 - but I wasn't alone and it wasn't without great purpose. Just as the iron is placed in the furnace to be pliable to be shaped and molded - so was I. Now dear Lord may you go the next step - may you dip me in the cool water to make that shape permanent.

Posted By: Sandy | January 3, 2010 11:41 AM

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