Practice makes...

I am learning a new skill: I'm teaching myself Java (the software development language, not the coffee, although the two go hand-in-hand). Thus I am reminded that very few things keep us as humble as learning something new.

Compare learning computer coding with learning to type. When I was 15 years old my mum encouraged me to take Typing as a school subject for which I am eternally grateful. It took me a whole year to learn to type properly. It took a lot of typing exercises, countless pages of letter patterns, hours sat in front of the typewriter (yes, a typewriter) and a lot of determination. Now, thanks to learning that skill many years ago, typing this blog goes almost as quick as thinking it up. Typing has become second nature to me.

Not so with computer coding. Not yet, at least. I'm still learning. I'm still practising to think in a certain way, while trying to remember the correct syntax for declaring variables, and figuring out why the computer is not printing the pyramid of asterisks on the screen as I thought I told it to do. But I'll get there... if I stick it out. If I continue to practice, to learn, to think differently, to remember, to make mistakes and learn from them. Coding in Java might become second nature to me, just like typing already is. Because practice makes perfect... right?

Not quite. We used to have this mantra during my days as a squash coach: " Practice doesn't make perfect. Practice makes permanent." In other words, practice doesn't make us perfect. Practice only makes whatever we're doing during practice permanent. This is true for squash, computer coding, typing and pretty much every part of life: What we do repeatedly, regardless of whether it is good, right or bad, becomes the norm. 

Paul writes this to the church in Philippi:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." (Philippians 4:8 - NIVUK)

Maybe if we practice thinking this way, it will, in time, become second nature to us. Maybe our outlook on life, our interactions with others, the way we speak to and about others will change as a result (Romans 12:2). Maybe when thinking this way becomes second nature, we can practice other things like being generous, being hospitable, being caring and welcoming, forgiving and peace-loving. Maybe we can have more integrity, more just, more courageous by practising to be like Jesus.

I read this quote recently: "In a year's time you'll be grateful that you started today."

This is true. And we have the power to start practising living like Christ right now. Who knows... maybe in a year's time you'll be a more Christ-like person, living in a better world, because you started today.

And maybe I will finally be able to make the computer print a pyramid of asterisks on the screen... 

Selah.