There is so much that I didn't know when I was younger!
When my parents made mistakes in raising my brother and me, I didn't know they were doing the best they knew how to do...
When I found my dad's stash of "adult" magazines, I didn't know the affect it would have on me for many years...
When classmates put me down, I didn't know they were making up for their own feelings of inadequacy...
When I wasn't part of the "cool crowd" in high school, I didn't know that the playing field would be more level when we got older...
When I used to get depressed in high school because I didn't have a girlfriend and felt no one loved me, I didn't know that one day I would be a husband and father...
When I blew off classes in college to go to the beach and let my grades fall, I didn't know it would affect my marketability for a job...
When I thought I was a cool Californian, I didn't realize how much I would love living outside of California...
When I asked God to be a part of my life, I didn't know He would change my whole life...
When I got married, I didn't know it would actually be as much work as it has been...
When I asked friends to be a part of my wedding party, I didn't know that our lives would take us in such different directions that they really wouldn't be much of a part of my life years later...
When I wanted to leave Los Angeles and move to a quieter and slower pace of life in Kansas, I didn't know that the Midwest mentality would kill me...
When I tried to make my firstborn obey me, I didn't know that I could actually crush his spirit by being so forceful...
When my 2nd born refused to eat "normal" foods, I didn't know that I couldn't make her eat by trying to shove the food in her mouth...
When I got frustrated with day-to-day ministry and felt "called" to plant a new church, I didn't realize that I would fail so miserably because I'm just not wired to do that...
When I moved my family 3 times in 8 years in order to pursue "my dream", I didn't know that it would affect us so much...
When I have shut down emotionally and withdrawn from people, I didn't realize how much it affected the people around me...
When I have failed, I didn't realize how God would turn my failures around...
When I quit ministry, I didn't realize that I can't run from my calling...
When I was young, I didn't know that one day I would be older and would look back and realize how ignorant I was...
I just didn't know.
I'm turning 43 in 3 months. I don't like getting older. There are many reasons that I wish that I was younger again. But experience is not one of those reasons. When it comes to wisdom and experience, I'm glad that I'm older. I know so much more now than I did...even yesterday!
I've made many mistakes in life and I'm glad that I can move forward in this 2nd half of my life with a little more wisdom than I had before...
Comments (8)
Chris, I absolutely loved this post! What a wonderful read it was. I must say that now, twenty five years later, I am so thankful that we were not part of the "cool crowd." I think we have so much more because of it!
Sounds like you've really come into your own. That is great.
very cool post. thanks for sharing... you have much to be thankful for and what great lessons God has brought to you.... sounds like the Lord is preping you for more... Joe
I resonated with so much of what you said. Â Wonderful post!
Maybe it's because I'm only 23, but I look forward to my birthday every year because I know that I get a little wiser as I age. And thanks for the wisdom regarding your grades falling due to skipping classes. At this stage it's pretty easy for me to forget that.
t - y.
This was well written...wisdom is hard to come by...and harder to teach...
I really appreciate this blog about Wisdom. I am going to start praying " Lord make me like Chris."
Bravo, Chris! Blessings continue to abound as you reach/teach others w/your simple words/lessons.
Gotta ask though....and mind you, I don't take any offense, but.....
What was it about the "midwest mentality" that killed you? There's a lot that absolutely drives me nuts as well. I was just wondering.