I have had some amazing teachers in my day. There was one in middle school named Betty Roberson who encouraged my science sentience. Paul Puffe helped engender a love of linguistics in college. There was even a student teacher who taught me the need to show respect for others that was totally outside the classroom experience.
As incredible as those educators were there is one that trumps them all: experience. Most people have the same reaction. It is remarkable how much I have learned since I got out of school. Don't get me wrong. Education is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle that is me. Everyday life has taught me more than the master's degree!
It has been said that we learn more from out mistakes than our successes. This has certainly been true in my life. Looking at all of my errors and mistakes I don't see too many failures.
In my opinion the difference between a mistake and a failure is measured in the education that comes from the occurrence. If I learn nothing from my mistake then it is truly a failure.
As you look back at your series of sins how many of them are failures? Consider the true meaning of the discipline. The true purpose of discipline is not to punish but to teach. Now my dad was old school and had no problem applying the board of education to my seat of learning. That discipline was critical to my development as person and taught me more than most of his rare praises. Another way to think of it is to think of an acquired skill as something called a discipline. It is something that is learned. A disciple in its original Greek form means someone who learns.
The discipline of life's lessons has been the greatest teacher for so many of us. What are you learning today from your life lessons?
