Sermon On The Learning Curve

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, a British business magnate once remarked: “My mother always taught me never to look back in regret but to move on to the next thing. The amount of time people waste dwelling on failures rather than putting that energy into another project, always amazes me. I have fun running all the Virgin businesses - so a setback is never a bad experience, just a learning curve.” Proverbs 1:5 confirms: “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.”

The learning curve is defined as the rate of a person’s progress in gaining experience or new skills. It can be considered synonymous to an educational process, erudition or the gaining of knowledge and wisdom gleaned from the simple events of life. It usually begins from the moment of birth and continues until the last breath taken on earth. However, its success rate can be dependent on both timing and magnitude. Not all people progress at the same rate as others, they may individually be considered as late developers. Alternatively, if the influx of information is considered excessive, the brain may experience problems assimilating the quantity and a possible overload may occur which results in a temporary shut-down.

Deferments could be attributed to home-life circumstances. Or, if a child is unhappy for any reason, then the receptive elements of the brain that allow for learning at the normal rate may be suspended. If a child suffers from low self-esteem or perhaps has significant external worries or concerns, that may also slow the ability to learn. Of course, it may be none of these factors that are creating the problem, it could be that the brain, in its relative infancy, just needs longer to comprehend the new information provided. James 3:1-5 reminds us: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!”

Unless the brain is not only able, but willing to readily process new information presented, the process of acceptance, decoding and response will not occur. Some complex information, often presented at a fairly early age, is difficult to comprehend. If we look at Pythagoras’ theorem, usually taught in schools, as a typical example, this equates that: a² + b² = c², one may initially wonder what a² and b² really represent. Let alone what c² may suggest! The theorem clarifies: “In a right-angled triangle of 90°, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the square of the other two sides.”

In geometry, this is an extremely useful equation to know and can certainly be applied to certain situations of relevance. However, in an everyday life situation, perhaps we need to evaluate its true importance. Just as with anything, unless we fully understand the complete picture, its relevance can be obscured. However, it should be noted, that even armed with all the relevant knowledge, success is still not always guaranteed.

Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer and mathematician once remarked: “Geometry has two great treasures; one is the Theorem of Pythagoras; the other, the division of a line into extreme and mean ratio. The first we may compare to a measure of gold; the second we may name a precious jewel.” Proverbs 9:9 confirms: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”

Some noted high achievers have been branded as slow learners in life. Woodrow Wilson, a successful politician, and Albert Einstein are two persons considered apropos. However, slow learning does not always indicate an intellectual disability, it merely requires more time to absorb and digest. It is the end product and understanding that is of relevance and importance, not how long it takes to achieve.

Hebrews 5:1-14 reminds us: “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.