Just keep learning…      

October 16, 2023

 From a previous post to the Jack’s Winning  Words blog comes this advice –

“When I was young my teachers were the old. Now when I am old my teachers are the young.”  (Robert Frost) Maybe the point of Frost’s quote is that we can learn from people of any age…as long as we’re willing to keep learning. 😉  Jack  

Jack was a life-long learner and I try to be, too. Learning come from being interested in things and people – how things work and what makes people tick. Learning comes out of questions – How did that happen? What makes it run? Why did you say that? What do you think of this? Just keep learning.

The enemy of learning is not ignorance; rather, it is apathy. Not caring or being interested in what is going on around you and in the people that you encounter may well lead to ignorance, but it almost surely leads to isolation and loneliness. Apathy is also a slippery slope leading to depression in some. Just keep learning.

In journalism one is taught to look for the Who, What, When, Where and How of the story that one might be covering. The more of those answers that you can get the better your story will be. Those are good questions to keep in mind for our daily lives. The more that we can explore those questions and get answers the richer our lives will be, especially as we apply them to the people that we meet. Just keep learning.

Challenge yourself to be better able to later answer those questions about the people you encounter during the day. You will find yourself asking more questions and listening more intently to the answers that they give you. Just imagine that you will be challenged to write a story about that person later. What do you know about them? How are you going to find out something interesting about them to write about? Just keep learning.

Another fun way to look at life’s encounters with others is to challenge yourself to learn something new from them. Just remember that they have seen, and still see, life from a different perspective than yours. Rather than rush to judgement on someone who has a different ethnic,  political, or religious view on life; why not accept the challenge of understand what their view is and seeing if there is anything to be learned from that perspective. Just keep learning.

If you accept some of these challenges to yourself, you will keep on learning. Your life will not be boring because you will always be discovering something new about others and about yourself. Eventually you will put the bits and pieces of knowledge that you have collected over the years together and they will coalesce into what we call wisdom. For most it takes quite a long time to collect enough new bits of knowledge to allow for wisdom to develop. That is why most of the wide people that we know are older. Just keep learning.

So, start out today and every day with the challenge of learning new things and meeting new people. Just keep learning.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Revisit your plan…

October 13, 2023

Today’s graphic is a good reminder that we all need to revisit the plans that we have to achieve our goals. Stubborn persistence to a failing plan is just a waste of time and many times just gets you further away from achieving your goals by taking you down a rat-hole.

It is not second-guessing yourself to pause and take a hard and honest look at whether the plan that you have is working. What you may discover is that the plan was not detailed enough – you did not break down the tasks needed to achieve your goal into small enough steps, or perhaps you missed some steps that are critical to success. It’s time to adjust your plan when you come to that conclusion.

It may feel like you are going sideways as you recover and complete the steps that you had missed, but they may be required to really make any further progress. Sometimes you may conclude that the path that you were on is a dead-end, like going down the dead-end leg of a maze. The challenge then is to understand how far you may have to back-track before taking a different approach (path). It is frustrating to discover that you‘ve been wasting time pursuing a dead-end path; however, you must treat it as a learning experience and rededicate yourself to the goals and to finding a new path.

Sometimes, especially in life, you may find that your goals change over time. You realize with the wisdom of age that some of your “goals” were superficial. Perhaps you finally understand that pursuing ownership of things is much less rewarding and important than forgoing meaningful relationships.  Maybe you finally see that a bright and warm day brings you more happiness than more money in your paycheck.

If you are really introspective you will find that your relationship with God is far more important than anything here on earth. In the back of every person’s mind is the goal of something beyond death. There is only one plan that you can pursue to make that goal happen – belief in the salvation and everlasting life made possible through Jesus Christ. If that hasn’t been your plan, it’s time for you to change your plan.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Remember to forget…

October 11, 2023

From a post to the Blog, Jack’s Winning Words, originally made on January 17,  2020 –

“Not the power to remember, but the very opposite…the power to forget…is a necessary condition for our existence.”  (Sholem Asch) I’ve read that the average computer has from 4 to 32 gigabytes of memory compared to the brain’s 1 million gigabytes. Unbelievable! (but I read it on the internet). In order to function in society, we have to forget certain words or actions and move on. Even the best of us, at times, can be the worst of us. Did God say “Forgive and forget?” 😉  Jack

Jack’s words fit nicely with this graphic that I recently got in a daily email.

Forgetting is a way of letting go. Perhaps the advice is not aimed so much as forgetting altogether something that has happened, but rather forgetting our reaction to the event, especially if that reaction was driven by fear or anger or prejudice. Sometimes what you need to forget is blaming yourself for that event. Let go today…

Time spent reliving the past is not time spent in the present or in planning for the future; it is just time wasted. The only thing that past failures or hardships hold of any value is perhaps a lesson for the future on what not to do again. Let go today…

Beating yourself up for a poor decision yesterday just wastes time that you could be spending on making a better decision today. Let go today…

Wasting time trying to find someone else to blame means moving sideways or backwards, but not making progress forward. Let go today…

So, remember to forget. Feel those moments of disappointment, pain or sorrow and then move on. Find a place to put that memory and then close the door on it. Let go today…

It may help you, as it so often helps me, to say this little prayer – “Not my will but thy will be done.” Yo will be amazed at the power that this short prayer has to set you free. Let go today…

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Posted by Norm Werner

Open a new door today…

September 30, 2023

I remember years ago watching The Price Is Right with Bob Barker. There was always a segment in each show where the contestants were given a choice of three doors, behind which was either a great prize or a bust. These days there is a wedge on the Wheel of Fortune prize wheel that is either worth $10,000 or is a Bankrupt. Contestants who land on that wedge must make the choice to move forward with what they have already won or take the chance on that wedge being worth $10,000. Open a new door today.

Life presents many instances where we are faced with multiple doors – multiple courses of action. The doors that we are presented with seldom present the choice of $10,000 or bust; however, they do often present the choice to try something new or to meet someone new or to ignore them as you pass by. Open a new door today.

Life presents us with many choices every day. Behind each choice (each door) lies the unknown. Some doors may be marked, “Danger, proceed with caution”, while others just look innocuous, no matter what dangers lie beyond. One may be stopped by the real or imagines dangers and never open any doors; or, one may be cautiously optimistic and open doors only after getting prepared for whatever might be behind them.  There are those also who blithely open all doors with little regard for the potential consequences. Open a new door today.

The most common doors that we are faced with each day involve personal relationships – whether to return a greeting from someone or ignore it; whether to return obvious affection or hold back; whether to commit to a relationship or spurn it out of fear or unwillingness to commit. Those are doors in our lives. There may be wonderful things behind those doors. Occasionally there also might be a bust. You will never know unless you open the doors. Open a new door today.

There are few things as sad as ending a day or a life with only memories of what you “coulda, woulda, shoulda” have done, with only a gallery of unopened doors in your memory. Life will take care of presenting the doors to you. It is up to you to make the decision whether to open them or not. My advice is to go big or go home. Open a new door today.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Could it be me?

September 25, 2023

From a reprint of the blog Jack’s Winning Words comes this thought provoker – “The trouble with thee is often me.”  (Pastor Bob’s bulletin) During my ministry I always included a Sentence Sermon in the Sunday bulletin, a short, positive message for worshippers to take home with them. I note that Preacher Bob did something similar, as with today’s quote.  Bob reminds us that when we find fault with someone, there’s the chance that the fault can be with both of us, or with me, alone. Let today be one of self-examination…and self-improvement.  😉  Jack

Jack Freed passed away but the best entries from his blog of many years is being re-posted by his son.  I almost always found inspiration in Jack’s posts and this one is no exception.

All of us can suffer from the fault of looking at others only through the lens of our own morals, tendencies or standards. If “they” aren’t doing it the way that we would, it must be wrong. If “they” don’t look like me or dress like me or act like me, they must be feared or shunned. It is amazing how often the rest of the world is wrong when we are sure that we are in the right. Could it be me?

But let us examine for a moment the unthinkable – that I may be in the wrong. What causes the reaction of uncertainty or even fear when I am approaching a person who looks different from me? What drives the dismissal of the opinion of someone younger than me or of a different sex. What causes me to turn away from someone in need rather than offering to help? What basis is there for so firmly believing in something or someone when clear and plain evidence would suggest otherwise? Could it be me?

“I was wrong” are three of the hardest words for us to say; yet they are the key to freeing oneself. Freeing from what? Freeing from the limitations that one imposes upon oneself by experiencing the world around them from the limited perspective of their prejudices and fears. Freeing oneself to explore beyond the boundaries of the boxes that we have put ourselves in through misconception and misunderstanding. Could it be me?

So, today resolve to break out of your self-imposed prison, admit that maybe you were wrong, and experience new things and meet new people. Approach others with a sense of wonder and interest rather than fear. Open your mind to new points of view. Try new things, new foods, new music, new clothes. Life does not have to be dull, nor does it have to be dangerous. Change “Could it be me” into “That could be me”.  

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Posted by Norm Werner

Be a blessing…

September 23, 2023

I often hear people say, “Have a blessed day.” I have never heard anyone say be a blessing today. Yet, as this graphic points out, if you are a blessing to others, you will have a blessed day. How does that work?

First, we must understand what it takes to be a blessing to others. That is usually pretty simple, but sometimes hard to achieve. Being a blessing in someone else’s life usually means doing something for them – performing some task, lifting some burden, or maybe just removing some barrier that is holding them back. Sometimes is may mean giving some money to help them out or to paying for the repair of something. It can mean as little as opening a door for someone or as drastic as laying down one’s life to save another.

We see stories on the news quite often about first responders, or even ordinary people, rescuing someone from a car crash or from a burning building. They were a blessing that day. How can we be a blessing in our day-to-day lives?

I think the main things are that you need to be aware and you need to care. Being aware means paying attention to those whom we encounter during the day. It is all too easy to have your eyes cast downward, perhaps towards your phone, so that you miss the looks of desperation or hunger or fear in the eyes of those whom you pass. You cannot help if you cannot see and recognize the need.

The second part of being a blessing is caring enough to act when you do see someone who needs help. Again, it is all to easy to just pass them bye; to say to yourself, “don’t get involved.” Jesus used the parable of the Good Samaritan to help his followers understand how to be a blessing by helping and not just passing bye.

I understand that not everyone has the time to stop and help in every situation of need that we may encounter; but, I think it is important to always have in the back of one’s mind the question , “What can I do to help?” There will be many opportunities for which you may have the time as well as the inclination.

At the start of each day, resolve to be a blessing to someone that day and at the end of the day look back and be thankful that you could help someone somehow. You were a blessing. What a blessed life you lead.

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Posted by Norm Werner

The development part is up to you…

September 21, 2023

Potential is an interesting concept to explore. According to the dictionary –

po·ten·tial

/pəˈten(t)SH(ə)l/

adjective

having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future.

“a two-pronged campaign to woo potential customers”

noun

latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.

“a young broadcaster with great potential”

Notice that both definitions use the word develop (or developed). If you leave off development all you have left is “latent quality or abilities showing the capacity to become something in the future.”

We are all born with endless potential; however, realizing one’s potential is not a passive thing. It requires that you take steps to develop those abilities and capacity to be something or someone different. It is a fair statement that many are born into circumstances that may hinder or seem to limit the realization of their potential. Those circumstances may slow or make the development of their potential more difficult. Yet we hear and see stories quite often of people who have overcome great disadvantage or adversity to rise to greatness, in sports, in politics or just in life. It is noticeable and notable that many athletes pause after a success and thank God. Perhaps that is a clue for you, too.

So, if you haven’t already, start the development process to realize your potential. Set your goal(s). Layout a plan and identify milestones that you will need to hit. Break the plan down into small, achievable steps. Perhaps take the time to ask for God’s help. Most importantly, get started.

The difference between potential and the reality of achieving that potential is effort. That part is up to you. Develop your potential. And remember to pause as you succeed at incremental steps of your development to thank God for your unlimited potential and his help with the opportunity to realize it.

Make the effort. Reach for your potential.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Just don’t stop…

September 20, 2023

What do Confucius and Fleetwood Mac have in common? Both advise that you not stop…

And from Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 hit song “Don’t stop” come these lyrics –

If you wake up and don’t want to smile

If it takes just a little while

Open your eyes and look at the day

You’ll see things in a different way

Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow

Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here

It’ll be better than before

Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone

Why not think about times to come

And not about the things that you’ve done

If your life was bad to you

Just think what tomorrow will do

Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow

Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here

It’ll be better than before

Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone

(listen to the whole song here.)

Confucius was advising persistence and the Fleetwood Mac song was pointing to hope for tomorrow. Both are important. It would be hard to be persistent if you lost hope for tomorrow.

Another key thought in the Fleetwood Mac song is the line “Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone.” One cannot get to tomorrow by constantly reliving yesterday. If something bad happened, it is over. Move on. If someone did something bad to you, forgive them and move on. If you did something stupid or bad, forgive yourself and move on. Do not get stuck in yesterday. No matter how slowly, you must move on.

I have explored in earlier posts some suggestions for moving on –

Are you moving on?
Close that chapter and move on…
Keep moving but be at peace…

and most recently –

So, get back up and move on…

So, whether you take your advice from a Zen master or a rock and roll star, don’t stop. Just let go of yesterday and move on into tomorrow.

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Posted by Norm Werner

Nobody said it would be easy…

September 19, 2023

In yesterday’s post I talked about viewing life as a journey and advised that you embrace and enjoy that journey. I also mentioned that the journey might take you through some dark places. Those are the difficult roads that you might hit. I did not say yesterday that making the journey would be easy. There will be difficult stretches along the way.

That might involve setbacks to the progress that you’ve made or perhaps the loss of someone who was making the journey with you or at least supporting you on the journey. Sometimes it may feel like you’ve hit a pothole in the road – a sharp but very temporary jolt. Other times the route ahead might feel precarious, as if you are creeping along on a mountainside trail with a scary drop if you make a mistake. Perhaps it just feels like the road ahead stretches out to the horizon with no destination in sight.

Perhaps the biggest key to navigating difficult roads is letting go of the illusion that you can somehow control the future. At best, what you control is your reaction to the future. Only God can control the future. And speaking of God; a good first step in reacting to difficult turns that your journey might take is putting your trust into God. I use the little prayer, “Not my will but thy will be done.” That simple little prayer takes the burden off me, allows me to forgive myself, if I am the cause of the problem that I am facing, and frees me to move forward.

Overcoming adversity also requires patience and perseverance, two traits which seem to be in short supply these days. In our “immediate gratification” world having to patiently wait and being persistent in our efforts is frustrating. Many would rather just abandon an effort rather than seeing it through to the conclusion. It is possible to go through life achieving just those small things that you can get done quickly; however, those who take that route never achieve greatness and live a life that is much less satisfying.

So, do not be afraid of the difficult road. Be patient. Persist. Trust God to take care of the future. At the end pf that difficult stretch of road lies the beautiful destination of satisfaction.

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Posted by Norm Werner

That’s what makes it exciting…

September 18, 2023

Today’s graphic provides a good reminder to just enjoy life (the journey).

The path in our journey through life is never clear or without surprises. That’s what makes it so interesting. Some may choose the word challenging. But is out of those surprises and challenges that we learn and grow.

How boring it would be if one just got up each day and sat around doing nothing in the same place all day long, every day. You might think, “At least I’m safe because I did not take any risks”; however, you would also have no answer to the question, “What did I learn today?”

Will you see new things? Will you meet new people? Will you experience things that you have never experienced before? Take the journey and find out.

No matter how hard you try, you really can’t stand still in one place for very long. Life is a journey and you must move forward into the unknown. You really have no choice; you must take the journey, so what not enjoy it. Embracing the journey, as the graphic message says, can be as simple as wondering each morning, “I wonder what life has for me today”, and then heading out with enthusiasm to find out.

Sometimes the journey might take you through dark places. It is then that your faith will provide the light for you to see the path through to the other side. Other times you may reach a point in the journey that has been your goal for a long time. If that happens, set new goals, search for a new purpose, and continue the journey. A win in life is but a welcome waystation along the route of your journey.

Maybe I’ll see you or you’ll see me. Wave if you do and I’ll wave back. Sometimes you’ll meet people who are headed in the same direction as you and they may become friends or more. It’s always nice to have someone to share the journey with; but, in the end, it is your journey. Embrace it.

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Posted by Norm Werner

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