INSPIRASUNS

I had to pull out my sewing machine last night to do some touch-up work on a pair of pants. It’s funny how I can remember when I first learned how to sew. It was in my middle school home-ec class and I remember our teacher clearly, Mrs. Ross. Her husband was our middle school principal. I grew up in a small town and it wasn’t unusual to find that kind of relationship at the school.

Anyway, as I was sewing last night, even though it was just some small alterations, nothing major, I was remembering all the basics I was taught. I replayed some of those classes in my head and could still hear Mrs. Ross say, “make sure to hold the thread when you press the pedal to start your stitch, make sure to backstitch, holds everything in place”. Even though that was so long ago, (I don’t need to be specific on the years here, you get the idea), I still remember the basics, the foundation she taught so clearly.

I also remember my high school driver’s ed teacher was the same way, yes, same small town. Mr. Seng, he was an awesome teacher. He was patient and he explained why you don’t turn your wheels when you are waiting to make a turn in an intersection, he explained why you did turn your wheels a certain way when you parked on a hill. He taught us how to parallel park, and yes I can do this like a charm even today I’m happy to say! The basics, the foundation of what he taught is ingrained in me, again even from long ago.

These memories that came to mind this morning, have me thinking about our youth, and our young adults today. How many can sit down at a sewing machine and make something? If push came to shove and they needed to make their own clothing or make a Halloween costume for their kids or make curtains for their first apartment, could they, or would they even want to? How many can work with their hands, woodworking, painting, basic construction, or repairing a car? How many were even shown how to parallel park when they took driver’s education?

My point to all of these questions is, the basics, the foundations we were taught in school, or by our parents or grandparents, have stayed with us long into adulthood. Those foundations are extremely useful skills that may seem outdated in our current super techy world. Maybe I’m showing my age a little, but I know at the end of the day if my technology failed, which it does at times, I could survive. My fear is there are many in current times that couldn’t.

I think it’s a good time to get back to teaching basic skills, helping our youth and maybe even some adults, to learn something new, (old). Even something as simple as growing a vegetable in a pot on your patio is a useful skill that is not wasted. In my humble opinion, it’s gotten too easy to just buy what we need, use an app to have it delivered, or pull up to the “pick up order only” spot and have the groceries dropped into the trunk of the car. Ask yourself, if those easy tools were gone tomorrow would you be ok?

Just some thoughts this morning friends. I’m not slamming technology, don’t misunderstand. I just feel that if we don’t have the basics, our foundation solid, if we aren’t grounded in simple life skills then we run the risk of being unprepared for whatever may come our way. Just some things to consider over your morning coffee 🙂 . Have a great day!

Proverbs 9:9
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.