Always learning and teaching. . .

"The Lord won't take you until you've learned all you're supposed to learn and you've taught all you're supposed to teach." I remember a friend of mine saying those words a long time ago. At the time I felt very secure in this life because I knew for sure I had a LOT to learn yet. Back then, I guess I thought we each spent part of our time here learning, then the rest of it teaching what we had learned. In other words, by admitting my ignorance, maybe I had discovered the "secret" to controlling my own longevity. Since then, I've thought of my friend's words from time to time and have realized that, as in all things, the relevance is God's time--not ours. We never stop learning, even if we try. As for our teaching--neither is there a start or end to that. There is always learning and teaching left undone. Or so it seems. However, according to God's time--maybe not so much. His plan is perfect.

I'm thinking of someone I have known whose life wavers, right now, between this one and the next. I believe he epitomizes what it means to have lived a life that has been purposely and spiritually driven to teach what God's nudges have directed him to teach. There will be an irreplaceable void with his passing but the gift he leaves--everything he has taught--will live on through all those whose lives have interwoven with his.

There is something very special about a man whose favorite outfit apparently includes a "Grandpa" sweatshirt, lovingly decorated with hand prints in many sizes and various bright colors.