Oh the People You’ll Know

I often sit back and wonder how in the world I got to where I am today. I think about what got me to a place where I am settling down and getting married in a month, or how I was called into ministry. I think about the places I have been and all the things that I have seen. I think about that Dr.Seuss book “Oh The Places You Will Go.” I think about the encouragement it was and how even today parents give that book to their children after they graduate from High School or head of to their University of choice. However, I have come to the conclusion that it is not the places that I have been nor the things that I have seen that got me to the place that I am today. It is the people who have been placed into my life that make me who I am today.

I had the opportunity of having my bachelor party this past weekend. I think about all the fun that I had just spending time with the guys who have had a major impact on my life in one way or another. I look at my dad who spent the entire night just enjoying spending time with the guys, or the brothers I have made through college, or the man who is with my sister who has become more of a brother to me than I have ever expected. I think about my pastor and his son who joined in to just come spend time with me and the boys and play video games. These people just this past weekend made my life better than it ever was just by spending time and having fun with me. I think back to all the people God placed in my life that after spending time with them made me a better person. Who helped me realize that I could be so much more if I would just turn away and look to God for direction. All the men and women who encouraged me in my ministry and all the people who were proud of me for just attempting to go far let alone succeed. These are the people we all get to meet at one time in our life. People who pour into our lives just to make us better, but there is another group of people who I think also have a huge impact on our lives.

The people who decided that it was their life’s purpose to make our’s hard. I think about the people I once called friends who did nothing but make my life miserable. I think about the people who thought I was garbage and decided to try to make my life that way. I think about the men and women who saw Wayne and decided that he would not be worth the time to pour into to make stronger. I think back to all these people who made my life hard and realize that I am very appreciative of them. When we approach these people or interact with these people in our lives we have two choices: Harden our Hearts, or Learn from the Experience. When we harden our hearts we allow no one ever to come close to us again. In ministry this is number one reason why pastors get burned out so fast. They harden up and let no one into their lives in order not to get hurt again, but all it does is kill you faster. The best thing we can do is to learn from experience. If we take the hurt and the discouragement and learn how to get back up afterwards, you will stand up stronger and faster every time. I have learned a lot from those who thought that I was garbage for it makes me look back at myself and realize that I could be something so my greater. It makes me look back at myself and realize that I am made in the image and likeness of God. It makes me see that I may be garbage some days, but I am recyclable and God has something amazing to make and I am the right piece.

The people you will meet in your life will impact you either in a small way or a huge way. It is up to you on how they impact you. For final thought, you are one of these two people in someone’s life. Instead of being the one who causes pain you can be the one who shows them how to stand back up after the pain. It is up to you.