In a column distributed by Religion News Service, writer Cathleen Falsani marked her 40 years of life with 40 points of wisdom she has learned along the way.
I like both the content and the idea of such reflection. Too many people zoom through life without ever asking “What did I learn?”
Whenever I return to familiar places of my past (such as schools, homes, churches) I wonder about how those experiences shaped my life? Beyond the stated curricula, what did I learn?
Perhaps a good class reunion would be to forgo period music and pull up desks in a classroom to ponder such questions. But then, maybe only a philosophy major/psychology minor would have such interests.
However, I enjoyed reading Cathleen Falsani’s reflections on the spiritual wisdom she has garnered over four decades of human existence. Here are a few of my favorites from her column:
“Do not be afraid of doubt. Certainty — not doubt — is the opposite of faith.”
“Perfect love casts out fear. And even imperfect love does a pretty good job.”
“Listen to children. They know more about God than we do.”
“God loves you. You can’t do anything to make God love you less. And you can’t do anything to make God love you more.”
Collecting such wisdom along the way is always a wise thing to do — regardless of age or situation.
Director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee and former executive editor and publisher at Good Faith Media.
