“Ka ako kia ora, ka ora kia ako” (“Learning to live, living to learn”), is written on the pen, I received today when visiting the Festival of Adult Learning at Far North Reap here in Kaitaia.

When reading that on the pen, I asked myself, “What are the most important things we must learn, and what are the most important things I have learned?

We are celebrating ADULT LEARNERS’ WEEK at the present time (September 2-8, 2019).

We are challenged to try something new.

Learning another language, for example. What about te reo? Yes, I am all for learning another language, because I love languages. I used to work as a missionary in Thailand and learned the Thai language.

Cooking is also suggested. That surely is not for me, and nothing more needs to be said. However, sometimes I wish that I would love to cook.

We are also challenged to discover our inner artist. But there is no inner artist to discover in me, unfortunately.

Another challenge is “upskilling for work.” I am all for it. And who would not be?

“Finding a new hobby,” is also suggested. That is a good idea, of course. I am all for trying something new.

But the most important things I have learned we find in the BIBLE. Why? The Bible is supreme. Why again? We have questions about life and death. The Bible answers the questions of life and death. The Bible is the Word of God.

The most important things we must learn we find in the Bible.

“And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.” – Mark 9:45

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, where the fire never goes out.” – Marl 9:43