Slow and Steady

I am finally learning the secret of success.  Notice the key word in that sentence, ‘learning.’  I am still in the process of learning how to be a better husband, a better father, a better friend and a better pastor.

I have been doing some reading lately about being a “plodder.”  A plodder is one who is like the tortoise in the famous story about the tortoise and the hare.  He is slow, he meanders through as fast as he can, but he gets to the finish line.  The turtle in this story reminds me of me!  It seems to take so long for me to learn lessons that that others already have dominated and learned.  For example, it has taken me 8 years of pastoral ministry, 16 years of missionary ministry and 30 years of marriage, to learn to not blow a gasket when people get upset with me.  As well, I am learning to not make a mountain out of the issues that cost me time, worry and ministry in the past.  Very few of them, in reality, are worth getting worked up over and getting upset about. I have learned to take it in stride, to pray for the person, and to commit the situation to God.  

Being a life long learner I have come to the conclusion that I cannot be good at everything (not that I was ever accused of that anyway!).  Some people are wonderful with the little details of scheduling, accounting and minutia. Thankfully God has gifted me a wife who does love that stuff.  I have people in my church who are excellent at it.  Every time that the Finance person in our church goes over the budget and they begin to read the income and expenses of the ministry, I get lost! They seem to be speaking Greek to me.  But, that is okay, I will learn one day but for now I am content with studying the Word of God each day so that I can feed the people each Sunday a good, spiritual, life-changing sermon.

Maybe it is my age, maybe I realize that it is better to concentrate on a few things instead being frustrated over the things I will not understand.  But, I want to keep moving ahead for God and for those around me that He has allowed me to serve and love.  The great apostle Paul said it this way in the New Testament book of Philippians 3:13-14 “But one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

How are you doing in the race of life?  Are you learning to accept how God wired you? Are you learning to keep moving ahead one day at a time?  How about you and I pray for each other as we keep on moving ahead for God’s glory and for our good!  If I can serve you in any way, please send me a note at pastorbill@westbourneministries.ca.

God bless you!