Unexpected Teachers

I enjoy fishing with my friend Brian. He is a great fisherman, knows what he is doing, and we usually do quite well. But I especially appreciate his general outlook on life. When we have a slow day or even when we lose a fish, Brian doesn’t get all worked up or bent out of shape. Instead, he inevitably says, “This is good because we’re learning. We’ll get them next time.”

Sometimes in life, things don’t go our way. Sometimes the big fish get away. Sometimes we make mistakes. We don’t always get it right. It is easy to get worked up and bent out of shape. It is easy to find someone else to blame. But, on the other hand, if we look at these moments as opportunities to learn, life is more enjoyable. Setbacks can indeed become our teachers. And if we keep our eyes and our spirits open, there is always much to learn.

Let us pray: Loving God, I thank you that we have the ability to learn, that we are not condemned to making the same mistakes over and over. Today, as we sit on the edge of this new year, I pray for your healing grace to wash over us. Mend us where we are broken. Strengthen us where we are weak. Grant us patience with ourselves and others, that we might serve as a channel of your peace, and enjoy this life you have given to us as a gift. Amen.