Visual Learning

I really feel it for my kids just now, as they try to do their online school work, at home. It is difficult, and oftentimes frustrating for them, as they, and their teacher, type back and forth to each other, as they try and explain what a certain maths question means. I felt it for Micah the other day, as he tried his best to understand, from just a few typed sentences on a screen, what he was meant to be figuring out.

A couple of their teachers have set up a ‘virtual’ classroom, for the pupils to view each day, to help them see what their work is, for that day. However, no matter how fancy and well laid out it is, it still doesn’t live up to their teacher, being right there with them.

One of the days, I sat with Josiah and watched a youtube video that his teacher made, explaining how he should do his maths sums 🙈. I took out some lego pieces, to break down the ‘tens’ and ‘units’ to help him (and me), understand and visualise what she was saying. (He was actually more preoccupied by the fact she had a ‘youtube camera’, and had uploaded her own video to youtube!!) The video was very well done, and she tried her best to let them 'see' her teach the session. But it still took a few views, pauses and practices, before he grasped it. If she had been sat there with Josiah, she would have been able to tell from his face, that she needed to slow down, or repeat that section again, so that he could understand the process.

I would not cope well with online learning. I am such a visual person. I need to see things physically, in front of me, to understand. When I was at university, I wrote out all my assignments and essays on paper first, before I could type them up. I much preferred, holding a real copy in my hand to work with. When Calum went to uni after we were married, it never sat well with me, when he just typed straight onto the computer, instead of writing it first. I used to say, “would you not be better writing it first, would that not be easier for you?” He could never understand, why I thought basically doing it twice, would be easier!!😂 (I do type my blogs though, instead of writing them first, I’ve come a long way!!)😝

If I receive an email with something important for me to read, then I print it out, so I can physically hold it in my hand as I read it. That way I take it in better.

I love reading maps, and I can visualise in my head where I am. When we drove to France a few years ago, I studied the map and planned out our journey. I always knew exactly where we were, and once we arrived in France, I would check the map, so I could see in my head where we were and get my bearings. Honestly, if it had been left to Calum, then he would still believe we were driving ‘up’ to London! Until a few years ago, if looking at a world map, Calum didn’t know where America or Australia were in relation to the U.K.! He is not a visual learner at all. One night we were watching television, and some people trying to work out flight paths, on a giant atlas on the ground. To mine and the kids' shock, he confessed that he would never have been able to work out the flight path, from London straight to Sydney!!

This year, I have gone back to a 'physical bible' to read, for my daily reading plan. The last few years I have used an app, and I find it impossible to remember things. When I’m reading from an actual bible, I remember so much more. If I’m trying to recall a verse or something that I have read, during my daily reading, I can actually see in my head where on the pages it was written, how close it was to the next chapter etc, and this helps me find it when I go back to read it again. However, on an app or screen, I can’t picture anything.

A few days ago I was thinking of the phrase in the bible:

“You love him, even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him.”

1 peter 1:8

Despite the fact I am such a visual learner, the foundation of my life is based on someone that I have never physically seen.

My core beliefs, are based on someone, that I can’t see. This might seem strange to many, especially if they understand, what I mean by being such a visual learner. It's just the complete opposite way of thinking to what human nature expects. After all, there is that saying 'seeing is believing!'

It is against our nature to just accept something, just because someone says it. We either need to read it for ourselves, try it ourselves or see it for ourselves.

When Jesus rose from the dead, Thomas, one of his disciples said that unless he saw Jesus with his own eyes, he would never believe. But one day, Jesus revealed himself to him, and said "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me" John 20:29. Jesus is speaking about me. I never saw Jesus, hanging on that cross. I never witnessed the pain and suffering he endured, for me. I never saw that display of power as he rose again. Yet I believe. But there are still many today like Thomas. They want a sign, to know that the bible is real. They won't believe otherwise.

As Calum and I took the kids out for a walk, in the starry night a few weeks ago. I was struck by the vastness and awesomeness of the night sky. I was once again reassured, that this all needed a creator. It could never have formed otherwise.

"When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers- the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Psalm 8:2-3

Although we have never seen God, we see the evidence of him around us, in the very world he created. In nature itself.

We have certainly witnessed God at work, many times in our own lives or others. I previously wrote a blog about a dear friend Steve, that passed away last year. We witnessed God at work in his life, as he transformed him from an alcoholic, to a man of God. A transformation that would have never taken place in his own abilities.

As I read my bible more and more, I begin to understand God better, and I see him at work in my life. Through time, I can see things that I have prayed for, answered. I can know and experience peace, in impossible situations. Have an unwavering and unlike me, trust and faith that regardless of circumstances, I don't need to worry. When I look back on situations, I wonder how did I manage to hold it together, through that? I see that it wasn't me, but God holding me. I might never have laid eyes on God, but I have witnessed Him at work.

I suppose it boils down to the simple truth again, In order to know God, you must experience it for yourself, in order to understand. It's not something that can be really explained. I can't, like my kids school teachers, make a youtube video, explaining how I see God in my life and if you watch it a few times, then you will eventually grasp it. If you ask Him to show you that he is real, then he will answer your prayer. God just wants to be believed.

Below, is a song I love to sing. Rarely does it fail to bring a tear to my eye. I may never have seen God, but one day I will, and well, when that day comes, I can only imagine!💗