Take Flight, My Fellow Brown Birds

Encouragement for Late Bloomers

Introduction

Early in my academic journey, my parents bestowed upon me the “gift of time.” From kindergarten through 12th grade, I wasn’t exactly what you’d call a stellar student. (Though I did qualify for “super kindergarten,” as Doug Heffernan would say, so I had that going for me.) This streak of academic underachievement persisted well into my college years.

The Root of Underachievement

The reasons behind my lackluster performance remain somewhat elusive. Was it a lack of interest (or perhaps laziness)? An inability to focus? Or maybe I just wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. It could have been a combination of all these factors. My beloved wife playfully suggests I must have been in “the Brown Bird reading group,” based on my mother’s reports - a group for students who needed a bit more “support” than others. Looking back, I suspect I found myself in many such groups throughout my education.

A Late Bloomer’s Awakening

The “why” behind my academic struggles is less significant to me now than the reality of my past and how it appears in my rearview mirror. While I’m unsure if I’ve become any sharper, I do know this: I’ve fallen in love with learning. I’ve become the Leo the Late Bloomer of lifelong learning. It took me a while, but I’ve grown to cherish not just learning itself, but the personal growth it brings.

Sharing newfound knowledge with others has become a wellspring of energy and encouragement, both for myself and those around me. To paraphrase Eric Liddell from Chariots of Fire, when I study and learn, I feel God’s pleasure. Isn’t that how it should be when we’re living faithfully according to our calling - that we sense his delight?

The Many Faces of Late Bloomers

Late bloomers come in various forms - academic, athletic, vocational, and those who are late to living life to the fullest. But the term “late bloomer” implies that one has eventually blossomed. Or perhaps “flourished” is a more fitting word? Maybe “presently flourishing” better captures the essence?

It’s Never Too Late

The beauty of learning is that it’s never too late to pursue a new interest or revisit an old one. It’s always possible to delve deeper into subjects we already know well. While I’m sometimes uneasy with the concept of “mastery” - as I can hardly imagine knowing something so thoroughly to claim I’ve mastered it - I recognize that I’ve improved in various areas of knowledge and skill.

Mastery vs. Progress

While some may have indeed mastered aspects of their craft, perhaps the rest of us can view ourselves as works in progress - provided we’re actively working to progress. How fortunate we are when an interest evolves into a calling, and that calling ignites into a passion.

I once heard a wise person say we become passionate about what we’ve mastered. But I wonder if it’s the other way around - that we master what we’re already passionate about. It’s a bit of a chicken-or-egg scenario in my mind. But I do believe that the more we enjoy something, the more we flourish at it, and the greater enthusiasm with which we pursue it.

Conclusion

It’s in those moments of passionate pursuit that I believe we feel God’s pleasure. We sense a greater alignment with his will for our lives. And that’s a beautiful place to be. So, to all my fellow Brown Birds out there, keep flying and moving forward. It’s never too late to become a Leo the Late Lifetime Learner. And who knows what God will do with you then?

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