Fifty-Two Things I've Learned in My Fifty-Two Years

This past week I turned 52. Seems like a few years ago I was only 19 and Julie and I were getting married, but the truth is that was over three decades ago. I began to wonder, "What have I learned over the past Fifty-Two years of my life?" I did what you are probably thinking should be done, I started writing down things I have learned that have stuck with me. They are not world changing or will not solve the world's problems, but they are things that have molded me and have made me who I am. They are not listed in order of importance and it is not all inclusive. Below is the list I came up with. What are things you have learned that you would like to share with others?

 

1 I am not as good as I think I am.
2 I am not as good as people think I am
3 Writing helps me express myself
4 True friends never give up
5 I love praise (not a good thing)
6 A sense of humor is essential living on Earth
7 Cleveland is not a mistake on the Lake
8 I am a technology geek
9 Sports are fun, but don’t make an eternal difference
10 I neglected reading when I was young
11 Reading is a great privilege
12 Jesus really is King
13 There is nothing great about being famous
14 Sleep is overrated
15 I wasted a lot of years
16 I married a phenomenal woman
17 I like Broadway plays
18 There is no greater evangelism tool than Church Planting
19 Church Planting is the hardest job in ministry
20 Church Planting is the the most rewarding job in ministry
21 Churches don’t understand church planting
22 Most churches are self centered
23 most Christians are self centered
24 I am not the center of the universe
25 There are many other people of many races and nations I have fallen in love with
26 There are many more important things than success
27 My parents were smarter than I thought
28 Raising kids is a great opportunity to change the world
29 My family will be my legacy
30 Never thought I would love grandkids the way I do
31 If your parents are alive, you need to call them daily
32 If you are a Christian, defend the name of Jesus
33 We make much of things that really don't matter in the big scheme of things
34 I learned things growing up about God that weren't true
35 I like to write, which would not have been at the top of my list growing up
36 That Hot Wheels are great toys
37 Batman is the greatest superhero
38 That brothers and sisters are meant to lean on
39 I cannot do anything on my own without God
40 There is no one who is perfect regardless of what they think
41 The world is a beautiful place
42 My wife makes me look good in every possible way
43 People take advantage of each other and will tell you what you want to hear
44 Missionaries are the most sacrificial people I have ever met
45 Poor people seem to be happier than rich people
46 God knew what He was doing when he made the world and made me
47 Emotional pain is real and it sucks to be hurt that way
48 I am my own worst enemy and cause most of my problems
49 Education is important if you want to make money and be successful
50 People are waiting for me to help them, I just have to do it
51 My life will end one day and I hope I have made a difference
52 That political bantering is a waste of time and ridiculous