PASTOR'S CORNER: THINGS LEARNED, RELEARNED

It's been an interesting, and humbling, last couple of weeks. Coming off a vacation, wrapping up the season with the Jackson Barracudas, working Vacation Bible School, finding some time to reflect on my blessings and improving my "quiet time" have helped me remember some important lessons that God teaches, if we are willing to learn.

Not all of the following lessons are original with me, but they were observations I found true for my life and how God deals with me.

- I've learned that God is always more willing to speak to us than we are to listen.

- I've learned the hardest part of any job is simply getting started.

- I've learned that the best way to make yourself feel good is to make someone else feel good.

- I've learned you should never get too confident about how you think someone is going to react to what you're doing. Sometimes they like it. Let them.

- I've learned if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.

- I've learned that prayer is the best medicine for the terminally ornery.

- I've learned that sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is to let them help you, even if you don't want the help. People like doing things for others, and with other people.

- I've learned the more a person complains, the more they need an affirmation and some positive feedback.

- I've learned that no one has offended me beyond what I can forgive ... if I want to.

- I learned that just when you have something the way you like it, someone will change it on you. You'll survive.

- I've learned two people can look at the same thing and draw different conclusions -- and both be correct.

- I've learned that people who don't trust you, or your work, ought not be trusted themselves.

- I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the greater his need to cast blame on others.

- I've learned there are some people who aren't happy unless they're fussing about something that makes them unhappy and there's nothing I can do about it.

- I've learned the presence of silent company is more healing than words of advice.

- I've learned some people are never happy with what you do. There's always another way you should have done it. Do it your way anyway.

- I've learned that sometimes you get a second chance, but don't always bet on it.

- I've learned I need to treat everyone with greater kindness, because everyone is fighting some kind of battle.

- I've learned that someone's troubles may be inconsequential to me, but I can't walk past someone's Calvary and simply call it a hill.

- I've learned that wherever I go, the county's worst drivers have followed me.

- I've learned everyone needs a prayer, even when you don't know what to pray for.

- I've learned that it pays to believe in miracles, because when you believe in them, you experience them.

- I've learned that a little encouragement is all some people need to finish a job, and saying something nice doesn't cost me a dime.

- I've learned that whenever I decide to do something with kindness as a primary goal, I stand a pretty good chance of making a good decision.

- I've learned that nothing can kill a good idea faster than a negative attitude.

- I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

- I've learned I'm still a work in progress, and so is everyone else.

- I've learned I need to remember what I've learned.

- I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.