Six Things I’ve Learned Along the Way
by Bishop Al Gwinn, Retired United Methodist Church (1971, MDiv)
Most of us could list a multitude of things we have learned. And certainly the importance and priority of those things would vary according to our personalities, thought processes and experiences. But here are six things I have learned that are certainly “big rocks” on which I am building my life.
1. The Biggest Mistake is to Mix Up the Stories.
2. Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen.
3. There’s Too Much Checking Off and not Enough Checking In.
4. Every Boat needs an Anchor … and a GPS.
5. Some People had it Figured Out Even before We Started Figuring.
6. Just Let God be God.
This is designed to be a brief article so I will make only a brief comment on each of these. In another setting each of these is worthy of some greater consideration.
When we talk about things we have learned, we are talking about our stories. The stories of our lives. And all of us have unique stories. Beautiful stories. Important stories. But one of the things I have learned is that my story is not the most important story. Let me explain.
It is so easy for me to try to fit everything, everybody and everywhere into MY story. Even God! That is to say, the natural human tendency is to think – How does God fit into my story. But reality is – I fit into God’s story! THE story of stories is God’s story! In the beginning …. It makes all the difference in the world as to whose story fits into to the other!
The most beautiful people I have known have faced great challenges, adversities and difficulties in their lives. But have somehow moved through and beyond those experiences. I wish I could tell you about Camille Yorky or Jimmy Shelton or Mildred Sumpter or Artie Mae Cousiner! Persons who had an unusual light within and a remarkable understanding and acceptance of who they were. Men and women marked with a deep belief in the goodness of God and a profound compassion for others. These radiant people had let go of the unfairness in life and had grasped hold of the possibilities in life. A grace, a charm and a beauty had surfaced in their lives irrespective of the depths of disappointment, pain, struggle and suffering they had known.
Now, a thought about, There is too much Checking Off and not enough Checking In. I like the way one of my mentors use to say it, life is not something you do but something you experience. This simple truth is easy to say but I’ve found is hard to practice. If you are like me, it is a significant challenge to truly live in the present and let tomorrow care for itself. The Day Timer days (those on the right side of middle age will well remember this time management system) taught us to have a check off list. So we learned to get one thing behind us so we could move on to another. But most of us, regardless of the age spectrum, are tempted to live for tomorrow instead of living in the present. Many typical days are filled with too much “checking off” and very little “checking in.” You will remember our Lord had something to say about this! Today I want to enjoy as fully as possible every part.
Did you know our US Coast Guard requires that every boat must have an anchor? Boats drift when motors fail. Have you ever tried to spend the night on a boat that was not anchored? Have you ever tried to fish in the wind when the boat is adrift? An anchor is a must! And, if you have ever been on a large body of water or at sea a GPS (Global Positioning System) is a must! I’ve observed that every person needs an anchor and a GPS or they will be lost and adrift. For Christians I’ve learned that the will of God is a sure anchor and the sacred scriptures are a wonderful GPS. My heart has often ached for a brother or sister of the faith who crashed on the rocks or drifted out to sea because they tried to sail with no anchor and GPS aboard.
All of us have surely heard the phrase, “There is no need to reinvent the wheel.”
I suppose this means, at least in part, that something very significant has already been discovered and wise ones could gain greatly by acknowledging this discovery instead of ignoring it. My grandmother use to say it this way, “Listen carefully to those who have traveled a road you’re about to travel.” So I’m trying to gain more and more each day by listening carefully to those who have gone before me. Like, the deep truth found in the Westminster Confession, one of our oldest catechisms, that the purpose of life is to love God and enjoy him forever. I do affirm that they had something extremely important “figured out” even before we started to “figure!” Lord, help me to live into the wisdom of the ages.
Finally, at least for this article, I’ve learned to let God be God. Perhaps you are thinking “duh!” And maybe rightly so! But here has been the struggle I have faced before resting in this learning. It is so easy to put God in a box! Now He is restricted to our understanding. We know what He should do or would do. We know what He will or will not do. Because WE know! This is the 21st century and we are wise enough to figure out His thinking and to know all His ways. Please know that I am critiquing my thoughts and not necessarily yours! But I have truly learned that His ways are not often my ways or His thoughts like my thoughts.
After all, He is God! He can do as He pleases – and I will trust Him! So, I don’t
know why He did not heal my 26 year old friend but some years later chose to
bring back to life a young United Methodist mother from Kinston, North Carolina.
I’ve decided to let Him out of the box!
Happy are those who learn well!