Which image best reflects your life experiences?
I recently sat through an excellent workshop by Hugh Phillips and wanted to share one of my takeaways.
He mentioned how we all have luggage, which are processed experiences, and that our luggage will yield much wisdom and some of our greatest life lessons when they are reflected upon. This is wisdom! This is praxis! Character formation best happens through our life experiences. I love how Hugh mentioned that our luggage can either make us better or bitter, and that it’s ultimately our choice.
I want my luggage to make me better, so here’s my “work luggage” – how my most recent work experiences have shaped who I am:
- Moving to, living in, and pastoring in Korea: I learned how important it was to place my trust in God, rather than people. Yes, people can be trustworthy, but we are called to love people and place our trust in God. Unfortunately, we too often love God and trust people. We have it mixed up.
- Jeremiah 17:7 – “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”
- Matt 22:39 – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Listen to this message by Wayne Cordeiro who unpacks this concept – http://media.enewhope.org/audio/W1046.mp3
- Moving to, living in, and pastoring in Montreal: One of the greatest lessons I learned from Lorenzo DellaForesta and River’s Edge Community Church is the importance of creativity. Creativity is crucial to success – especially in our constantly changing 21st century. Props to River’s Edge and all their creative initiatives!
- Pastoring in Ottawa: I love pleasing others, and keeping everyone happy, but I learned how impossible this actually is! Conflict is inevitable when decisions are made – there is no way we can always please everyone. So make decisions wisely, and then stick with them.
- Youth Ministry: Through years of being a youth pastor, one of the greatest lessons I learned was the important reality that God is the one who changes people – not me. So often I tried, out of my own strength, to meet up with and change youth, but I soon realized how futile it was. I learned how I need to pray for people, and make myself available to them; however, God is the one who is going to change them – I just pray that he uses me in the process.
- Moving to, living in, and pastoring in Edmonton (current situation): I haven’t been in Edmonton too long, but probably one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned so far from working at Beulah Alliance Church is the importance of teams. In such a large church as Beulah, working in teams is so much more effective than flying solo.
Have you reflected on your life experiences? From work, relationships, education, family, etc.?
A life that hasn’t been reflected on is a life that hasn’t been lived.
Don’t just do – make sure to always take time to reflect afterward.
Here are some good questions to ask yourself: How has that experience changed my outlook on life? How has it affected me to be the person I am today?