Yesterday marked my 58th solar lap so I thought I’d update my sort of annual list of things I’ve learned so far. This time, however, I started from scratch so a lot of the list is new. Some is repeated because, honestly, I can’t remember what I wrote before. Without further ado (whatever that is) here are 58 things I’ve learned in 58 years:
- Faith is less about what God does and more about who God is.
- Buying new cars on payments is a sure way to get stuck in debt.
- There is no way to understand the world without seeing the world.
- Kansas doesn’t get better with time.
- Life without a local church seems impossible.
- Sometimes faith is not not believing in God.
- For the most part people are doing the best they can under the circumstances.
- Glancing back is helpful, staring into the abyss is not.
- Quitting golf is not that hard and carries few regrets.
- Matching socks are in the eye of the beholder.
- Experiences last longer than things.
- Trying to run alongside a car going 70 mph is a really poor decision.
- The best things in life may be free, but its hard to beat a really good Italian meal.
- A tickle fight with a grandchild erases most of life’s worries.
- Soul mates are cultivated not discovered.
- The Road to Hana may not be the most dangerous road in the world, but it will keep your attention.
- Not being able to dance is a poor excuse not to dance.
- The best music was, is and will always be 70s light rock.
- Age wears the sharp edges off theology.
- Evil is more prevalent in complacency than action.
- There is more than one Hyatt Place hotel near the convention center in Gwinnett, Georgia.
- It doesn’t matter that something is extremely rare when it happens to a family member.
- Hawaiian Shave Ice and snow cones are not the same thing.
- A well-timed text from a close friend is an incredible gift.
- Incessant barking from the dog next door can lead to justifiable homicide. (I hope)
- The best gelato in the world is from Gelateria Dondoli in San Gimignano, Italy.
- A hand-drawn birthday card from a grandchild is the best gift possible.
- Love letters are much more persuasive than lectures.
- More discipleship happens in a hospital waiting room than a classroom.
- Believing God loves you even though he doesn’t do what you desperately want him to do is faith.
- Diet Coke, though deadly, is delightful in the morning.
- Dancing to James Taylor’s “How Sweet It Is” with your daughter at her wedding is worth whatever it takes to get to that moment.
- Almost no one is out to get you; they just don’t have the time.
- As you get older, things become less important than time.
- God uses some pretty whacky people.
- See everything you can as soon as you can; you never know when Notre Dame might burn down.
- Parenting doesn’t have a finish line. It doesn’t even have a halftime.
- The most beautiful chapel in the world is Sainte-Chapelle.
- Seven year olds tell great stories; not necessarily rooted in facts, but full of imaginative details.
- 85 year olds tell similar stories to seven your olds.
- The opening montage of “Up” is the saddest scene in any movie.
- You never get over missing your mom.
- Holding onto bitterness is the most toxic and wasteful thing you can do.
- A 1982 Cadillac Sedan DeVille will not float
- Climbing mountains is best left to people who don’t require oxygen to breathe.
- Kids turn out ok even if you feed them Dr Pepper and fried cherry pies for breakfast.
- Following your heart is a great for a graduation speech but lousy career advice.
- Heaven may be full of people I don’t particularly like.
- Getting lost in Tuscany is a great way to find amazing pizza.
- No matter where you move your childhood team will always be your team.
- Buying cars sight unseen off eBay is not a great idea.
- My parents didn’t know what they were doing, just like me.
- God is most present in the scariest moments.
- The hokey pokey isn’t really what its all about.
- Having more years behind than ahead brings priorities into focus.
- Moose are better observed from a distance.
- You can’t do everything you set your mind to. (i.e. NBA)
- As much as I’d like a do-over on many things, moving forward is more productive than looking back.
