Old Dog... New Tricks

They say, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” I have to humbly disagree.  Now to be clear, I don’t exactly feel old.  I will, however, be 43 this year.  Since turning 40, I’ve had the privilege of watching my two boys get married and my baby girl is no longer a “baby” any more.  When I asked the elementary children I drive to school everyday on the bus if 43 is old, the majority of them thought it was. Yet, age has never really been an issue for me.  Notice I did not say I would be celebrating my 29^th birthday, again. I am very comfortable with growing older because it is simply a part of life.

As I get older, however, I am discovering I prefer certain things to be certain ways.  Take the common use of foul language in everyday conversation.  I grew up with the understanding that certain words were used only by truckers and drunken sailors, but now I hear children and teens using those words as freely as they use their own names.  I could also talk about music, clothing styles, and even the way I accomplish ministry in the church as I am finding aspects of each I wish would simply not change.

Being a pastor, however, requires me to stay in tune with the changing world around me so I can help make Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection relevant to a world that desperately needs a relationship with God.  This means I need to experience new things and challenge my own thinking regularly. Essentially, this “old dog” needs to constantly learn new “tricks” if I am to accomplish God’s purposes.  This can be difficult in an ever-changing world.

While it may be difficult, during the last several months I have realized it is very possible.  This realization developed as I followed the journey of Matt and Alissa Peppley.  I had the incredible privilege of being a part of Alissa’s life when she was in junior high.  It seems like an eternity ago, but you never forget an amazing young woman like Alissa.  Matt and Alissa have recently gone through a situation in life I wouldn’t wish on anyone.  They had a beautiful baby girl named Anna Joy who died 11 days after she was born.

As I pondered their circumstances, I found myself reflecting on my history with Alissa.  As I did, I realized Alissa has been teaching this “old dog” new tricks as long as I’ve known her. Chances are she didn’t realize the impact she was having on my life, but here are three moments I want to share:

1) We were on a summer mission trip to Canada when Alissa taught me all about applying your make-up in the car.  It was early morning and we needed to get going before she was completely ready. So, while we were in the van heading for the Canadian border, she pulled out her compact to finish her morning routine. Now, anyone who knows me well knows I have an overly inquisitive mind.  It took me less than 30-seconds to start asking questions about why she was doing what she was doing. Alissa seemed to be very amused that I had an interest in applying make-up, but graciously explained every step and answered every question. 

At this point, you’re probably wondering what new trick I learned.  It’s pretty simple, really.  I learned I am very thankful I don’t wear make-up. I gained a new appreciation for the efforts the fairer sex makes to look good for those of us who are lucky enough to capture their attention.  Guys, married or not, don’t ever complain about the time your special lady spends enhancing her beauty for your benefit.  We’re lucky to have them in our lives.

2) On another mission trip, this time to the Navajo reservations of New Mexico, Alissa taught me about burping.  It was probably sometime around midnight when Lisa and I went into the kitchen.  Everyone else was asleep, or so we thought.  As we entered the kitchen, there stood Alissa and another one of our teen girls from the group.  Apparently they couldn’t sleep and decided to talk quietly in the kitchen so they would disturb the others.  As we joined them in conversation, I opened a 2-liter bottle of root beer and poured everyone a cup.  Before long, someone let a burp out which led to an impromptu burping contest.

I wish you could have seen this in person.  Here were two adults and two teen girls standing around pounding down root beer and forcing the loudest burps we could come up with.  The most amazing part was that both Alissa and the other girl couldn’t have weighed more than 100 pounds soaking wet; yet, I have never heard a louder burp than I heard from Alissa that night.  She was literally a machine – the root beer went in and a GIANT burp came out on demand.  By the time we had finished, two bottles of root beer were gone and Alissa was declared the winner.

What trick did I learn? I learned big things could come from small packages. I learned that you cannot judge an individual’s capabilities simply by looking at them. How true this is in the real world around us.  Humanity has a tendency to look at someone and judge their capabilities based on their external appearance.  What a mistake! Just think about all the times God used the seemingly insignificant to accomplish his plans. David was just a shepherd boy, wasn’t he? Mary was only a teen girl, right? Of course not!  Both of them were so much more because God made them to be more.  He has made each of us to be so much more than our outward appearance.

3) During Matt and Alissa’s recent experiences, they have taught me about trusting God during the most horrible of circumstances, about looking for ways to glorify God in the midst of those circumstances, and that it is OK to be brutally honest with God regarding the circumstances.  (You can read about those experiences at babyannajoy.blogspot.com)

Now, you might be thinking, “But David, you’re a Pastor – shouldn’t you already know these things.”  I suppose the answer is both yes and no.  I am certainly aware of these things in theory, but sometimes theory doesn’t always match up with reality.  I am human after all. Fortunately, the lessons I am learning from Matt and Alissa will not just benefit me now, but will benefit me in the future both personally, and as I counsel individuals experiencing challenge in their life.  When that happens, it adds meaning, value, and purpose to the horrible circumstances Matt and Alissa have experienced in recent days. 

Matt and Alissa, thank you for sharing your life with us. Alissa, thank you for allowing me the privilege of watching you grow up across the years; and thank you for teaching this “old dog” some new “tricks!”

Until next time…

David