So often, we expect to receive. We attend a class with the expectation of being taught. We sit in a worship service expecting someone to lead us and pour into us. We sit in the coffee shop and ask our friend questions with the expectation that he or she will have answers that help us.

But learning involves responsibility. It’s not a passive process. No matter what we plant and want to grow, if we’re not intentional about preparing the soil then cultivating the growth, we’ll miss out on much of what was possible.

Perhaps we should spend more time in preparation and less in expectations if we want to learn and grow well.