Who's really learning, here?

While the twins were in class yesterday, I decided to take a stroll around the zoo.  To be honest, I was just looking for a quiet place to eat my lunch.  I was walking through a part of the nature walk, and I was the only one on that particular piece of path.  I came upon the back of the red wolf habitat.  They were all at the back, so the wolves and I had a "moment".  It suddenly occurred to me that I was looking at these animals courtesy of Noah.  Think about that.  Every single land dwelling animal, lizard, snake, bird and bug is here because Noah was conscientious enough to do his job. 

Once I had taken in the fauna, I started to look at the flora.  Now - I am taking liberties with the Bible here - but I started to think about all of the tender plants that are here in East Tennessee.  Think about spring and garden-planting time.  Many of the seeds we use are very fickle, and don't respond well to too much water.  Although it isn't mentioned in the Bible, I would like to think that Noah's wife and d-i-l were busy, too.  What if they were frantically collecting food to eat during the flood, but also seeds and plants that would be needed once the ark landed again?  I imagine after all that water, many (if not most) of the trees, flowers and plants were not salvagable.  Do we also owe Noah a thank you for the shade trees in the backyard and the pumpkins growing right now??

Then I started to think about what the ground would have looked like once the water receeded.  The artist renditions portray Noah stepping off the ark and onto beautiful green grass.  I don't think that's the case.  I think it was a vast, barren wasteland with dead things everywhere.  This was the cost of sin, and would have been a reminder to the Noah family for the rest of their days.  Memories like that don't fade. 

Now, perhaps you're thinking I'm giving Noah too much credit here.  Maybe I am.  After all, God was responsible for directing Noah and getting those animals to the ark.  God could have saved the animals without human involvement, if He so chose.  But, God found who He needed and trusted him to carry out the plans to the letter. 

Let's take that and apply it to our own lives.  Can God trust you to take instruction and carry it through without question or complaint?  If the world was depending on you for its continuation, would we all be doomed?  Even simpler than that - are you living in God's will?  Well, of course, we all fail.  Noah failed.  God said he was righteous, not perfect!  Noah might have had a temper, or a selfish spirit, or an unforgiving attitude.  We don't know.  God chose not to tell us the bad - only the good.  God focused on the good.  Whew - insert cat whistle there!!  If that isn't a lesson, I'm done! 

If my children learn nothing from this adventure, then I have failed them in their academic career.  But, if they learn nothing of eternal value, then I have truly failed them as a mother and have neglected my God-given responsibility.  I pray that God teaches me something about me every day, and that I apply that to the life I have been given to live.  And I pray that for you, too.

To finish the story, I did find that quiet place for my sandwich consumption!  I ate with the zebras.  There was a small area with a bench behind their habitat and I got to watch them closely, much closer than those on the main path.  I think that's a lesson, too.  Sometimes we have to walk a different path than the majority in order to receive God's richest blessings. 

I am finding this blog to be less and less about homeschool and more and more about what I'm learning while we homeschool!  Although the twins did get to see a fire belly toad and a lizard in class and visited the vultures and river otters in the zoo. 


Until next time,

Anita