Continuing education for this autumnal season is a daily adventure, albeit to places I didn’t expect to travel. (I bet you can relate!)

Part of having a purpose, because I have a pulse, depends on my willingness to attend the day’s continuing education lessons – That is, still being teachable.

So, I pass along some continuing education lessons, and I wonder if you have any?

Theodore Roosevelt said, do what you can, with what you have, where you are. So, here are some things you and I can do . . . carefully.

Moisturize, Moisturize, moisturize! Except, don’t moisturize your hands while reheating coffee in the microwave; or, before cleaning the dryer filter.

Speak up!  Except, when you are certain you are right, leave room for the reality you are often wrong.

Keep moving! Except don’t wander about aimlessly unless you have on your fitness tracker. Then you can take all the steps you need trying to remember where you put your phone or keys. I figure you have your glasses on.

Be willing to learn how to operate gadgets. However, never assume the buttons on the remote will in fact operate the television and the do-hicky box next to the DVD player you never really learned how to use.

Nor should you ever, ever, ever believe you can operate you adult children’s media equipment, or household machines, like dishwashers.

But it NEVER turns on for me!

Be helpful. However, resist, resist, resist the impulse to cry out “I got it” when the anything sudden happens. Just let the plate drop, or the doorbell ring. Especially after moisturizing your hands.

Who can hope to be safe? who sufficiently cautious?
Guard himself as he may, every moment’s an ambush. ~Horace

Finally, never should you think that because you are fluent in English, you understand what those forms say that demand a signature, especially the fine print.

Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don’t. ~Pete Seeger (Bonus points to those who know who Pete Seeger was.)

Being teachable has been an attitude I’ve long recommended, especially in this season. Actually doing it . . . well, continuing education is a life-long adventure and so, too,  is my hope in the sovereign goodness of God.

Here’s a link to some lessons a dear friend is learning, especially about the sovereign and personal goodness of God: Monumental Lessons from A Stroke

photo by Angela Murray