Thanks, Brad.  I needed that.

Sharon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brad D" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 10:01 PM
Subject: If you don't use it, you'll lose it


> "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude
> themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is
> like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has
> looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of
> person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of
> liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an
> effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does." -- James
> 1:22-25
>
> Years ago before I had need for Braille and other blindness skills, I knew
> I would eventually have need for them and so sought out a proper training
> facility. I had gone to visit a facility in my state, spent a week in
> evaluation. I didn't really get much out of the first week, and
> so   ignored the definition of insanity, that is, doing the same thing
> over and expecting different results. I had stayed on an additional week
> to see if that facility had any warm and fuzzies to come out of it as
> blindness training is concerned. It didn't. I then visited a facility in a
> neighboring state, one in which blind folks ran and taught along side some
> sighted teachers, and equality and motivation were a mainstay. I knew this
> was the place I needed. So I had tried to get my state to rehab me in the
> neighboring state as their facility was subordinate to the one I truly
> felt would help me. After much talks with counselors, meeting with a
> supervisor, meeting with the supervisor's supervisor to appeal and finally
> an administrative review. I did lose the battle and they would not help me
> rehab via this training facility which had a reputation of being "boot
> camp" for blind folks. I was really jazzed about the idea of going there
> and so I left my wife and kids and took residency in the neighboring state
> to achieve this training. One thing that motivated me was during the
> meeting with the counselor's supervisor's supervisor, he sat across from
> me and told me I didn't need Braille as I could yet read print. Obviously
> this man was a  few brain cells short to think I wouldn't eventually need
> Braille with my deteriorating retina disease. What stood out to me so
> arrogantly, and motivated me all the more is he told me I didn't need it
> because "if you don't use it, you'll lose it". I very much despised this
> man because he was very arrogant and I was told he called himself "Rod,
> the rehab god". Hmmm, I'd rather be me anyway. Despite my dislike for him,
> he spoke a principle that is very true and in which has motivated me to
> keep up on  my Braille over the years even though I do not use it for
> leisure reading, I do use it in my business and casual reading. The
> principle of "if you don't use it,  you'll lose it" is not an idea coined
> or created by this man but can be seen in the above scripture. We're told
> that if we  only hear the Word, and do not use it or put it to
> practical  daily use, we forget what kind of a man we are. In other words
> by simple daily application of the Word, the precepts are engrained in us
> so we have no choice but to know who we are in Christ. Can you think of
> something you haven't done in years? Play an instrument, a song? Knit,
> crochet, work out a mathematical equation? For me it is spelling. I use to
> be a great speller but spell checkers and the speech have spoiled me so
> that I have need to actually think about how to spell certain words. I
> also use to sit and play some finger picking songs on the guitar while
> watching TV. I figured I'd never forget them because I played them over
> and over and over and over and over while watching TV at night. Today I
> can't even remember how they start. Back then I didn't even need to think
> about them while totally engrossed in a TV program while playing them. I
> can imagine this rehab person telling me that I don't need   the Word
> because if I don't use it I'll lose it, and he'd be right. Along with
> putting faith to work is continually seeking to learn more. The word says
> to gain knowledge, acquire wisdom and in the acquiring get understanding.
> We don't stop seeking, reading, learning and doing just because we became
> a Christian, at least I hope that is not the case. But we do run across
> times in our life when we stagnate, become complacent in life, or too
> busy. All of which is a poor excuse to forget the Word of God and in truth
> is all the more reason to dig deeper. This is something I have realized
> recently in my own life and digging in, sure is refreshing and a breath of
> peace no Life Savor flavor can match in freshness. If you are finding
> yourself to be too busy, too caught up in other activities, too
> complacent, or just unmotivated, do yourself a favor and crack open the
> Word, look up, ask God for a new fresh desire for his Word, mean it, and
> begin reading. You, and those around you will be glad you did.
>
> Brad
>
>