Como Estas

"Como esta?” (How are you?)
“Muy bien, gracias. Y usted?” (Very good, thank you. And yourself?)

That’s part of my very first lesson in high school Spanish decades ago. A simple greeting that stuck with me. I took two years there, and one in literature in college, and haven’t utilized it in a half a century since. Oh, now and then I’d speak a word or two with English-speaking friends, or translate in my mind a magazine or newspaper article headline. Maybe even a paragraph or two, but nothing else.

Until we were in Cozumel. Everyone knew we were tourists. We were in groups, all with cameras, stopping now and then to get photographs of family in front of something. We were with Beloved Husband’s brother and wife from Tulsa, having a grand time.

I became separated from them as they moved down a shopping lane and I remained inside a jewelry store. Such lovely rings! I do love rings. A gentleman stopped behind the counter and said, “Coma esta?”

My high school years kicked in and I replied, without looking up and without hesitation, “Muy bien, gracias. Y usted?”

His reply was a blur of syllables filled with vowels and consonants that sped past me without leaving a track. I began to apologize and explain we had reached the limit of my language abilities.

Has this ever happened to you while reading or hearing Bible verses? Would you find yourself agreeing with Peter as he wrote about Paul’s epistles?

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16 KJV)

It takes study and using those studies to retain and learn more, whether it’s lessons from high school or lessons from the Bible.

I agree with Peter, some things are hard to be understood. Working toward understanding takes learning more and wrestling with the difficulties that arise. We work hard at other things, things that interest us, things that help us at home or on the job.

Those of us who enjoy cooking work hard to create dishes our family and friends will enjoy. The first attempts may be difficult, may reach the table much less palatable than the picture that first caught our eye. Chefs go to school for years to ply their trade. Study and understanding go into placing food before us. How much more should be done in feeding our spiritual life?

There are more opportunities to learn today than ever before. In most countries education is more available today that it ever has been in the history of mankind. Of course, there is more to study today than ever before. We have choices before us.

How many will choose to study God’s word?

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)