Periodically, I have the privilege of playing golf with my twelve-year old grandson. Often, he stands in the tee box and looks back over his shoulder as he remarks to me, “Grandpa, watch and learn!” I laugh every time he says it, whether he hits it well or poorly. I admire his boldness. His challenge reminds me of the value of an example and, even more important, that God expects me to “watch and learn.”
There are many examples that are paraded before us throughout our lives – some good, some bad. But there is something to learn from them each and to profit by in our own lives. I recall learning to respect my mother from my brother’s failed example. He made the poor choice to respond to her with harshness and gross disrespect in the hearing of my father. Wow! I learned that day to not speak as he did to my Mom.
God gives us numerous examples for different purposes with the intent that we might indeed watch and learn. Recently, my wife and I became aware of a 17-year old teenager with stage four cancer. Treatments are intensely destructive as most cancer treatments are. Apart from God’s intervention, he is looking at three to four months of life. We think how tragic, yet his example teaches us of the brevity and uncertainty of life. The Psalmist understood this truth and pleaded with God to “teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). I am challenged by this young man’s example to evaluate my own priorities and pursuits knowing that life is a gift from God and can be called at any time. Every time I go to a funeral, this truth raises its ugly head.
Face it – God intends for us to learn from others. He brings examples before us that we might learn wisdom and walk in a way that pleases him. If we are paying attention, we learn to follow good paths and to avoid hard ones. It is tragic that we don’t learn readily as we should from these examples. Think of the hardship and disappointment we would avoid if we did. Think of the joys and blessings we have forfeited. Yet, this axiom unfortunately remains true, experience (our own and not others’) is the best teacher.
The proof of our learning from the example of others is found in our walk. Have we learned from them and put into practice the truth that their example has revealed? To put it another way, what kind of example am I to others? Everyone is an example for good or for bad. We have no choice in this matter. My life screams to those around me, “watch and learn.” Who is watching you and what are they learning?
From the Chaplain 