One of The Most Valuable Adult Lessons I Ever Learned

When I was pregnant with my second baby, I took a refresher childbirth course. This wasn't just any old birth class though. This was a class meant to really get you thinking for yourself and reaching inside for hidden knowledge that would help you make wise choices for yourself and your baby. The instructor gave us all kinds of information on options for birthing. But she didn't expect us to take her word for it. In fact, she made it very clear that she encourages clients to do their own research on the things she presents. She also recommended that we pray about our birth choices. 

This "do your own research" thing stuck. It really has made a huge difference in my life too. 

Back in my high school days and the early part of this century, we had to find resources in an actual library. 

Nowadays, there is a wealth of information online. 

But let's pretend that we were back in high school and could only find resources at the library. And let's pretend that there was someone you didn't know going around the library with you, and just before you could grab a book you needed for your research paper, that person grabbed it first. Maybe you were lucky to get a couple of books off the shelf before him, but then he takes them from you a day or two later. And let's pretend that this person had a friend who worked at the library... The library employee also actually hindered your research by altering some of the pages in the encyclopedia or biography you needed for your research paper. And let's pretend that both of these people are actually telling you that it's for your own good. That they are denying you your research opportunities. They say that the information in the original was messed up, so they changed it or just took it away so that you couldn't see it. 

What would you do? What would you say? 

And what if you aren't able to get any resources... what then? How will you ever get your research paper finished on time? 

We can either say "Thanks!" or we can start asking questions like "Is there other material I can look at?" "How do you know the information is not accurate?" "Can you please direct me to those sources?" 

These questions should help. If you can't get satisfactory answers to your questions, though, or if they keep taking the resources you find, would you feel like going back to that library EVER again? 

If it were me, I would feel like I was being treated like a child, and being bullied, and I'd probably get defensive. Granted, I may say thanks if I find that they are saving me from having to filter through a bunch of lies, but how would I know that without reviewing the material? 

I can pray.

Prayer works on a spiritual level...

Spirit does not have the limitations of a human body and knows so much more than we can comprehend. But we can tap into that knowledge with prayer. Addressing the Almighty God, the author of all truth, and asking for Him to give you answers is one very powerful way to get answers. 

In the mean time, finding a different library is going to be in everyone's best interest, in my humble opinion.