The author nailed this one on the head. This remarkable book is a refreshing spring of knowledge. It contains exceptional examples and solutions for many of the trials we each face everyday. It provides a vividly written, practical illustration of the many essential lessons we must learn as we travel through life. It gives amazingly clear expert advice and dynamically displays many in depth insights to dealing with the ever changing scenarios that we must contend with in life. Its straight forward terms illuminate the mind and give us a first place look at the subtle nuances of life's perplexing situations as it provides the appropriate advice for dealing with each one. In it, we are encouraged and given the tools needed to persevere as we make progress toward our destinations. This book is a virtual gold mine; a treasure trove of proven battle plans for superbly achieving life's victories. It deliberately focuses on solving life's most common and persistent problems and provides us with the impetus we need to firmly press on to victory in every area of our lives. Elder Johnson keenly demonstrates that many times we fail in our ever increasing efforts to overcome some of the simplest problems we face in life because we only see the problems from one angle. To overcome this handicap, he takes a multi-faceted approach in dealing with each situation so we can better understand the complexities that are often involved in resolving the many problems we face. If we diligently implement the advice and apply the strategies that are laid out in this outstanding book, we can not only endure but successfully overcome even the most profuse challenges we face in life. This book is a small investment in life but one that you will never regret.
LESSONS LEARNED
Along Life's RiverBy Franklyn Tyrone JohnsonAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 Franklyn Tyrone Johnson
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4520-5892-4Contents
Forward...........................................................xiiiIntroduction......................................................xvChildhood to Manhood..............................................1Some Advice.......................................................51Connections.......................................................55A Decision To Love................................................57Put Forth Your Best Effort........................................59Using your Talent.................................................61The Test Of Suffering.............................................63A Test Of Faith...................................................65Seed Faith........................................................67Life And Restoration..............................................69Two Ears, One Tongue..............................................71There Is Life In Your Words.......................................73Apprehension......................................................75Courage...........................................................77Don't Panic, God Has A Plan.......................................79Do Not Doubt......................................................81You Should Get To Know Your Enemy.................................84The Audacity To Trust God.........................................87Understanding And Forgiveness.....................................89Forgiveness Moves Us Into Freedom.................................91Take Time.........................................................93True Contentment..................................................94Setting Hopes And Goals...........................................96My Hope Is That You Fail..........................................98Home Building.....................................................100The Foundation Of Marriage........................................105Being Bridge Builders.............................................108Spiders...........................................................110Eagles Wings......................................................112Butterflies And The Change Of Life................................114Overcoming Selfishness............................................116Shoes.............................................................119Relationships, Responsibilities And Decisions.....................121Dealing With Friction.............................................124Mixed Emotions....................................................126Get A Grip And Move On Up.........................................128These are Practical Tools For Success.............................131You Already Have What You Pray For................................134The Fullness of Time..............................................137Concepts, Suppositions And Assumptions............................139Ethics And Conduct................................................141Kindness..........................................................143Slow Down.........................................................145Patience's Perfect Work...........................................147A Parent's Ear....................................................149Learning To Hear..................................................151Learning Lessons..................................................154Learning To Follow Instructions...................................156Determined To Follow..............................................160Whatever Is Necessary.............................................161Growing Up........................................................163Growing Like A Tree...............................................165Sight Problems....................................................168The Rearview Mirror...............................................170Vision............................................................172Foresight.........................................................174Make Sure You See What You Think You See..........................176Rationality.......................................................179Wisdom............................................................181Lip Service.......................................................182Christians, In Deed Or By Word Only...............................184Time Travel.......................................................187Work Vs. Grace....................................................189God's Ownership...................................................191Destiny's Essence.................................................193Our Course In Life................................................195The Icebergs of Life..............................................196A Kite's Flight...................................................198Don't Spend Major Time With Minor People..........................199Company Keepers...................................................201Reunions..........................................................203Dealing With People...............................................205Friends Who Care..................................................207True Fellowship...................................................209Walking In The Rain...............................................210Storm Warnings and Storm Chasers..................................212Tangible and Intangible...........................................215Comparisons And Measurements......................................217Obstacles And Opportunities.......................................219Preparation & Priorities..........................................221Preparing Meals...................................................223Popularity And Power..............................................225The Difference Between Joy And Happiness..........................227The Gift of Life..................................................229
Chapter One
Childhood to Manhood
A CHILD IS BORN
I was born in my grandfather's country home, near the small town of Bowling Green, Virginia; the eldest son of seven children, four girls and three boys. Many of the most significant and life-changing moments on my journey along this river occurred when I was a child. Those lessons were prevalent in my life because they formed my character and shaped my destiny. Had I not experienced them, I would be a very different man in a very different place from where I am today.
JOY IN THE EARLY STAGES OF LIFE
We lived in the country, about five miles outside of town. Country living was a lazy, yet energetic time for me. As children, we loved visiting our neighbors and often times we became so engaged in the activities of the day that we lost the track of time. Before we knew it the sun had begun to fade in the iridescent evening sky. The time had come for us to make our way home and we would have to hurry if we were to arrive before dark.
Often times we had enjoyed ourselves so much that we procrastinated in leaving and were ill prepared to make it home before the darkness fell. There were no streetlights along those winding country roads and we often found it quite joyful just walking briskly along in the moonlight of the summer night; listening to the frogs, crickets and hoot owls as we rounded every turn. We would look behind us every now and then to see how far we had come as we anticipated the end of our journey home. My mother and grandfather were always waiting at the door eagerly anticipating our arrival. Once there they would hold each of us and tell us how much they loved us and made sure that we washed and said our prayers before sending us to bed. As I crawled into bed, my grandfather would often say to me, "Buck we'll be going to town in the morning." Why did he have to tell me that? He knew how I loved going to town with him and I could hardly sleep in anticipation of the next morning's trip.
We, children, were encouraged to be open hearted and were free to enjoy all that nature had to offer; from picking blueberries in the fields and cracking black walnuts with a rock, to chasing butterflies and fireflies in the spring and summer, to skipping flats along the old mill pond in the early fall. We even enjoyed lying out under the night sky and counting the stars as the gentle summer night breezes cooled us.
FIRM MEMORIES
The smell of hickory or oak burning in the old Franklin stove on those cold winter mornings was most enjoyable. I remember one cold winter morning when the old stove and I first met. It was a burning encounter as I pulled a chair close to it so that I could savor the warmth that it provided. When it touched me or I touched it, I knew without a doubt that this was a friendship that I would have to enjoy from a distance. In what seemed like a moment, I was sitting in a cold washtub of water. It was a long way from the soothing warmth that I had wanted from the old stove, but under the circumstances it felt quite good. Needless to say, that was the last time I ever backed into anything for I had forever learned to watch where I was going.
The beginning of the day was usually rather hectic as we prepared for the day. Most mornings we were up at the crack of dawn as we readied for breakfast. The table was always set before we made it into the dining room. Breakfast was always made from scratch, and it was hot and utterly delicious. We often had eggs out of the hen house, fried potatoes or apples from the trees in the yard, smoked country ham, sausage or fried fish from the pond, homemade biscuits with freshly churned butter, milk and juice. Truly a meal fit for a king. Yes indeed, we had it made.
Life however, was not always fun and games. We learned the value of responsibility early. We had to do our chores; ranging from drawing water from the old well, collecting kindling for my distant friend, the old Franklin pot bellied stove, bringing in the eggs from the hen house or slopping hogs at the trough. All in all though, it was a pretty carefree lifestyle. However, I must say, to my disappointment, this carefree lifestyle for me didn't last very long.
A STARK TRANSITION
When I was about four years old, I guess closer to five, my family moved to Washington, D.C. Our move from the country to the city would prove to be a major change for me. The big city was a far cry from the wide-open countryside with its rolling hills, bubbling streams, forests and valleys of green. The city also lacked the open; star filled sky and clean fresh air. There were no open meadows full of wildflowers, songbirds and hoot owls. No more chasing darting rabbits and squirrels in the open fields. No more picking berries or gathering fresh vegetables out of the garden.
The move in reality was somewhat of a culture shock to me. It took me a great while to get used to big city life with its hustle and bustle, lights, noise and traffic. Everyone in the city seemed to be in a hurry to go nowhere. The caring and friendliness that I was used to from my country neighbors was gone. Everyone was so tangled up in himself or herself that they really didn't have time to be concerned for anyone else. That is, unless they needed something from them.
I had lived in the city for about a year when at the age of five, I attended my first public school. It proved to be a scary time for me as I entered a whole new world that first day. But, for the most part the teachers were nice, especially my first grade teacher, Miss Holiday. I loved Miss Holiday because she reminded me of my mother. She was much more than a teacher; she truly cared for all of her students. She gave me the greatest gift any teacher can give a student; she instilled in me a curiosity that framed my desire for knowledge. That desire increased my ability to recall information without having to revisit the source of that information.
Even still, I was a child and wont to do childish things. Therefore, during recess I spent the majority of my time playing with the other children. Playing games was fun, but I would also get engrossed in watching the ants marching to and fro with supplies for the anthill or the squirrels gather nuts for the winter or the bees buzzing through the honeysuckle. These sights made me realize that I still missed my green country fields, open starry skies, the cool summer breezes and the symphony like sounds of nature at night.
As I grew older I gradually became more accustomed to city life and soon discovered that if I were going to achieve anything from being educated in the city's public school system it was going to be a challenging feat. School had somehow become a place where I felt that I didn't really fit in because as I progressed through elementary school, there seemed to be more playing than there was study. I carried this same perspective with me as I entered junior high.
Upon entering junior high school, I saw that I had not been too far from being wrong. What should have been a great opportunity for learning turned out to be a lesson in how school sports play a major role in the education process. Book learning easily took a backseat to team sports and school pride. However, I often found myself spending the class recess time and my lunch period in the school library rather than on the ball field. My inordinate thirst for knowledge made me more of a bookworm than an athlete. That distinction didn't win me any popularity contests during my junior high school years.
MEETING GOD THROUGH HIS WORD
As I said before, I developed a love for reading mainly due to the encouragement I received Miss Holiday, my first grade teacher. That obsession with reading was greatly intensified by my fascination with the stories recorded in the Bible. It is the only book that mankind has that gives a breath of mind, builds a nobility of character and formulates a stability of purpose in our everyday lives. Yet, I soon discovered that even in reading the Scriptures daily, if we do so hastily, without any consideration of the text itself, we derive so little benefit from its teachings.
That discovery made me realize that many people have read the Bible through from cover to cover and still they fail to see the beauty in it and are unable to comprehend its deep hidden meaning. Their perusal of the Scriptures does not give them a clear view of God's plan nor is any positive instruction gained because they read out of curiosity rather than in faith with a sincere desire to understand the deep meaning it contains. To illustrate my point, King Solomon wrote,
"Yea, if thou crieth after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." Proverbs 2:3-5
As I stated, my fascination with this book began when I was about five years old. I had been gently drawn by the Lord and given a desire to begin reading this wonderful book. The more time I spent studying the Bible the more I realized the enormity of the life it contains and that my hunger and thirst for all it had to offer, would never be satisfied. I desperately desired to do 'His will' and had become obsessed with this God that I was reading about. After all, how could anyone be this loving or wonderful?
In my reading, I grew to love and adore God. So much so that I couldn't wait to get home after school so I could spend time with Him. While other children were outside playing, I rendezvoused with Him in my room. There in solitude I delved deep into His word for hours. I spent most of my time fellowshipping with the Lord, in this serene setting.
At first I didn't understand most of what I read, but as the years passed He revealed Himself to me more and more. I still didn't understand everything I read but deep inside I was keenly aware that I was changing. I thought about God for most of the day everyday. I prayed that the Lord would open my eyes that I might behold the wonderful things in His law. In my sincerity to learn, He soon gave me the revelation I needed to understand His word.
That understanding created in me a deep longing just to see His face ... something I had not done since I was three years old. (I wouldn't be reminded of or even remember those times for some twenty-two years.) The precious, intimate time I spent with the Lord at this young age had an exhilarating and intriguingly profound effect upon my tender heart. So much so that it tactfully but gently led me into a position where faith welled up in me to the overflow. When I was six years old, I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior and soon afterward joined the Saint Matthews Baptist Church.
DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE CHURCH
However, my family moved quite often during those years and I attended many churches in the city. Through all of the moving and changes, I found that a true joy was missing from my life. What I had once felt, I could no longer feel; at least not in the way I had before. Life had become filled with all sorts of church activities that I could have just as soon done without. We were so busy doing things in the church that; I was too exhausted to spend the time that I wanted to, with God. I missed our precious time of fellowship. I would sneak off every chance I could get and spend time with Him, uninterrupted by the cares of the world.
I was now about ten years old and at a time in my life where I truly didn't relish attending church as much as I loved communing with God through His word. If you were to ask me what caused me to change, I would have to say that as I attended the various churches, I soon realized that not everyone who attends church is there to worship God. Many people attend more as a formality than as a special time of worship. They do it because it is what they have always done. Some come to hear the choir, others to hear a word, but not necessarily 'the Word.'
Then there are those who only show up when they would have to sing or usher and finally, others come just to socialize, you know, what they consider, "Sunday go to meeting" and the meeting really had nothing to do with worshipping God. It is more a time to catch up on what had happened during the week. These situations disappointed me and greatly vexed my spirit. Yet, I continued to attend with the attitude and the hope that things would change for the better, but they never did.
AN EMOTIONAL LOSS
The year was 1969, a year which would prove to be a pivotal year in my life. We lived about two blocks from my grandparents and I would visit them often. I was about fifteen years old on this sad occasion. I had gone to visit my grandfather. When I arrived the apartment was quiet. I called him as I entered the front door. He did not answer me. I was shocked when I discovered him lying peacefully on his bed. He had gone to be with the Lord.
My grandfather was a man who had been raised in rural Virginia; what some would call 'the back woods' during the late 1800's and early 1900's, He was a man with little or no formal education, but he was a compassionate, God fearing man. He was a man full of wisdom and grace and I loved him with all my heart.
He had been my greatest hero from the time I was a toddler. He had nicknamed me 'Buck'. It was not until later in life that I would understand the significance of that name. As I recall the times we spent together, I remember the joy I felt when I was with him.
As a young child my main joy had been traveling to town with my grandfather. Whenever he left the house he would say, "Come on Buck" and I would run, as fast as my little legs could carry me, to catch up to him. He would pick me up and we would walk the eight or so miles into town, there I would spend the day with him as he cut grass and repaired or painted chairs or fences.
During the early spring and summer afternoons he would stop to rest and we would walk to the corner store. He always bought two Royal Crown colas and two iced cinnamon rolls. Afterwards we would spend some time sitting on a bench in the shade of a large oak tree. As we sat there eating and enjoying the cool summer breeze, he painstakingly taught me about nature and life. Then I would lie on a blanket on the grass, under the old tree, napping until he finished working. As the evening drew on, he would again pick me up, place me on his shoulders and sing to me as he carried me back home. This man had been my pillar. My father, in the absence of a father and I constantly depended on him and his wisdom concerning life.
He was such an influence in my life that now I understand what Freud meant when he wrote that the death of the father is the single most defining moment of a man's life. I was now acutely aware of the enormity of this truth.
My grandfather's unexpected departure took a huge emotional toll on me. I was deeply saddened, bewildered, angry and disappointed at the same time. Even today, I can still see myself grieving uncontrollably as I sat slumped on that worn wooden pew in that small country church, in Sparta, Virginia. I was unable to see for the blanket of tears rolling down my face; with a nose that was running just as hard as my tears were. I just somberly sat there as the ever-increasing pain of his sudden departure pierced my young heart. As he was ceremoniously laid to rest in the lonely cemetery of that small church on the side of a country road, I felt a pervasive emptiness that I had never known before. His death seemed to extinguish something valuable in me. The immensity of this stark naked truth pained me as much as the appalling, irreversible loneliness of it.
As I stood quietly under the large oak tree at the graveside holding my mother's hand, my spirit began to groan intensely. I was so upset and I didn't know what to do. My bewilderment began to turn from disappointment to trepidation then to anger. This was the first time that I had felt this way. The anger that had been ignited in my heart caused me to be totally upset with God because He had taken my granddaddy or so I thought.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from LESSONS LEARNEDby Franklyn Tyrone Johnson Copyright © 2010 by Franklyn Tyrone Johnson. Excerpted by permission.
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