Hello

The following quote is from Matt Millen.  I saw it on NFL Network’s, ‘A Football Life: Matt Millen’.

All we are is a collection of where we’ve been 

I count it a blessing for all of the experiences I’ve had

The good and bad, ya tend to learn the most from the bad

I wouldn’t change any of it

If you can add to those lessons, a little faith, a little hope

A little grace, you’ll have a better chance.

Matt Millen’s quote resonates with me for many reasons.  Growing up an “Army Brat”, I’ve literally lived on the east and west coasts, places in between and overseas.  Throughout my father’s career, our family’s average stay in one place was 18 months.

Adversity is part of life here on earth.  True tragedy can harden a person’s heart.  Hard times can people bitter, if they allow.  Bad things happen to good people.  I can not explain things like: my wife and mother of 2 young daughters would die of cancer, being involved in a fatal car accident, murder, suicide, or even divorce.   The Bible teaches that we are meant to be more than conquerors.  As more than a conqueror, we must do our best to face this adversity head on.  It is too passive and dismissive to simply state, “everything happens for a reason.”   Since we are going to experience adversity and tragedy along with all of the pain and sorrow that they bring, we deserve to experience love, joy and happiness in corresponding proportions.

For me, my Christian faith has been part of what has helped me move forward through the adversity of life.  For those of us that are Christian believers,  it is not enough to simply recognize God as the ultimate authority.  Action in our lives define that recognition.   Behavior is our attitude in action.  Since God is the ultimate authority in our lives, part of a maturing attitude and behavior involves surrendering our own individual plans in attempts to identify God’s perfect plan for us.   Part of that surrender is devoting daily time with God in scripture and prayer.  This develops a relationship.  Within that relationship, we consult with God about our daily decisions.   Within that relationship, we can begin to attempt to learn positive lessons from the adversity  and tragedy in our lives.  That is part of learning to be better and not bitter.

Since we can not change the past and God’s plan is perfect, “better not bitter” is part of the acceptance of the adversity and tragedy of the past.   Part of the acceptance is finding positives in all experiences, “silver linings.”  This search for the positives can help keep a person positive and serve to build others up.  It is a great feeling to find the positives in others and always be trying to help make a positive impact in people around you.

Daily life involves blessings of all kinds.  To quote NFL Hall of Fame Coach, John Madden, “When God made us, he put a little “not done yet” in all of us.”  I am not done yet, just a work in progress trying to grow and get better.