Becoming Scholars?

What an extremely profound word, become. I have never looked at it quite like I do now, with desire, nobility, intelligence and gratitude. I look back at my life and I can see the things that I have become, some good and others not so good. I can also look back in my life and see my many achievements, some self degrading while others have had a hand in molding my good character.

I am on a quest to raise scholars and become a scholar. Isn't it interesting how important it is to understand what something isn't to truly understand what it is. A scholar isn't someone who lives their life with the desire to achieve; good grades, degrees, diplomas, certificates of achievement, promotions, money and the list goes on. A scholar is someone that lives their life to "become" a person of value and virtue during their journey of achievement. Do you see what I mean about how profound the word become is?

I spent my weekend at an amazing seminar that taught me wonderful truths and how to apply them to change my character and become those truths. That is what a scholar is. A person that has desires to achieve and through proper learning, discussion, application and desire to change becomes a better person. Notice that I didn't say anything about becoming rich, well known, top of the class, the boss, a faster runner, thinner or well read. Achieving is not what a scholar is.

Knowing what a scholar is doesn't only guide me in my future quest but has helped me see how far I have already come. I don't have a college degree, I stay at home with my children so I am not making money or getting promoted, I am not attending a college of any type right now and I am not and have never been an intellectual giant. However, I am a good person, I have good values, I read good books, I study daily and I have made many positive changes in my life based on truths that I have encountered along the way.

Here is an example of the difference between achieving and becoming.

Do you have a book list? A list of books that you want to read? How good does it feel to check that book off your list? To finally finish a book feels so good! You have achieved!

Are the books you're reading teaching truths? Are you discussing your books or writing down the truths that you have learned? Are you taking these truths, learning how to apply them and using them to change your character?

When we read books to just check them off of a list or for pure entertainment we are achieving. When we read books to learn truths, apply truths and change our character we are becoming.

I am not a book prude, there are truths and lessons to be learned in every book that you read. That is why we have book clubs and book discussions.

Example: The Hunger Games, this book is so filled full of truths and lessons and it was one of the most entertaining books I have ever read. Only when I sat down with my son to discuss them did I truly grasp the meaning and lessons of each truth. My favorite truth was that of family, the love that Katniss had for her mother and sister, she would give her life for them. Families find strength in adversity. Now take this truth figure out the application of the truth and choose to change your character.

This is just one LONG example of the difference between achieving and becoming. I hope it helps you to get the idea. Writing it out has helped me to better understand the truth of becoming and the application, now I need to change my character and do all I can to "become" as I take my everyday strolls and constant struggles to achieve.

Seminar given by: Aneladee Milne