A few years ago, I took some words of Paul and unpacked them.

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.

As I consider where to start in that process, it may begin with a simple phrase: “I don’t know.”

I offer that phrase to both of us. It’s a useful phrase. I don’t say it often enough, though I often feel it. And it reflects a humility of areas of expertise that I am attempting to learn.

In some reading I’m doing about Lent (including in this new book by Esau McCauley), I’m noticing the practice of study as part of this season. I could have noticed it earlier in my life, but I’m glad to start now.

Study, and learning, start by clearing space, by stopping with being experts.

“I don’t know,” is a helpful phrase for this. So might be these:

• “I don’t have to have an opinion just because she does.”
• “I don’t have to share opinions that I have just because he does.”
• “I don’t have to explode in disgust or anger because of expressed opinions, particularly opinions that I don’t have to read.”
• “I can choose not to care about that issue.”
• “I don’t know enough about that yet.”

And then we can say, “What are a couple things I can study that will help me learn more?”

For example, before saying what Jesus did or did not think or do or say, we could say, “I haven’t read through the Gospels for a bit. During the weeks til Easter, I could read a couple chapters a day and remember.”

And then we could talk with someone else who has read them and say, “Here’s what I saw new this time. Have you ever noticed that?”

And we could, as I suggested yesterday, ask God for suggestions.

Just a suggestion of something to think about.