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Welcome to Stuff I Learned Yesterday. My name is Darrell Darnell, I was not able to get rid of my head cold over the weekend, and I believe if you aren’t learning, you aren’t living. In today’s episode of Stuff I Learned Yesterday I share lesson I learned from a surprise at church yesterday.
Today’s Fun Fact of the Day: Tomorrow, June 9th, is Donald Duck Day. Donald Duck Day commemorates the debut appearance of Donald Duck on June 9th 1934, when he featured in the Silly Symphony cartoon The Wise Little Hen.
Here’s What I leaned yesterday.
Did you hear last Friday’s episode? It was a really great episode with Friday Forum contributions from Faith and Justina. Justina closed out her call with something I found simple and profound. She said, “The stuff that I learned yesterday has turned me into the person that I am today.” As I expressed during my comments to Justina in Friday’s episode, her choice of words really got me thinking. However, something happened at church yesterday that really made this phrase hit home.
About 8 years ago my church was in need of a worship leader. The previous one resigned and we needed someone to step in and fill the role. I volunteered to fill the position, never dreaming it would last as long as it has, but I’m not at all upset. I really enjoy doing it. Over the years I’ve received random cards and expressions of gratitude from guests and members of our church. What happened at church yesterday was totally unexpected.
I arrived at my normal time to meet the rest of the band for rehearsal. After we finish up rehearsal we have about 45 minutes before our service begins. People begin to trickle in, coffee begins to flow, and donuts begin to fill bellys. About 20 minutes before church started yesterday, some unexpected visitors walked in. Those visitors were my grandma, dad, and brother. Their arrival was my first clue that something was up. You see, my dad and brother don’t attend church except on very, very rare occasions. They tried to play it cool and wouldn’t tell me why they’d decided to visit.
Soon enough it was time to begin and the service went on as normal. I lead the congregation in a few songs and then the pastor came up and delivered his sermon. After that was done I led the congregation in another song. At this point things took a different turn.
Instead of the ushers coming up to receive the offering, the pastor asked me to put down my guitar and join him in front of the stage. He then told me that the church had been planning a surprise appreciation day for me. The pastor said some very nice things about me and then one of my band mates performed a song that he’d written for the occasion. After that some of the other members shared some encouraging words and stories about me and then they gave me a basket with a dozen or so cards. A few of the cards were hand made by some of the kids from our church.
I was shocked. Our pastor, Scott, asked me if I had anything to say but I was at a loss. There are only two other times in my life when I’ve received such an outpouring of love expressed in this manner. In both of the previous occasions, it was at a going away party so I knew ahead of time that it was coming. This time was a total surprise.
My pastor spoke of how humble I am. He joked about how ornery I can be and my love of bacon. He also mentioned my dedicated nature. He said that whether it’s leading the church as worship leader, serving my clients, podcasting, or my family, I am dedicated fully. He also talked about my spiritual maturity.
Here’s what I learned.
As he said those kind things about me my mind raced with all kinds of thoughts. He used the word humble. I can tell you this with 100% certainty: If I am known as humble, it is only because I have been known as proud. Do you remember episode 3 of Stuff I Learned Yesterday? In that episode I shared how my pride cost me every friend I had. That was a hard lesson for me to learn but I have become a better person because of it.
Scott said I was dedicated to those around me and to my work. If I work and show dedication in a way that is honorable, I do so because my dad demonstrated that same quality every day. He did everything he had to do to make sure my brother and I had food. He always put the needs of his family before his own, and he taught me to keep working until the job is done.
Scott also said that I had love and care for others. I’m sure this is true to a certain degree, but I still think I have plenty of room to grow here. However, a big period of growth for me came when my brother was deployed to Iraq. It was only then that I realized what true sacrifice is. It was only then that I realized what it means to put the needs of others before yourself. It was only then that I began to truly appreciate the frailty of life. If I demonstrate love and sacrifice to others, it is because I learned it from my brother.
Finally, Scott mentioned my spiritual maturity and sensitivity. There is no question that my spiritual journey is built upon the foundation laid and nurtured by my grandparents. Without their love, faithful demonstration, prayers, and guidance, I would be a shadow of anything I am today. While certainly not perfect, as none of us are, they are the backbone of who I am in my faith.
If I am humble it is because I have been proud. If I am dedicated, it is because someone is dedicated to me. If I am loving it is because someone has loved me. If I am spiritually mature it is because I have been discipled.
Today, on this 8th day of June, 2015, I am not quite yet 40 years old. I have learned much during my time upon this beautiful planet. I can say most assuredly that I still have much more to learn that what I already know and the stuff that I learned yesterday has turned me into the person that I am today.
I’m Darrell Darnell and this has been Stuff I Learned Yesterday.
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