Based on the severity of my TBI, on the sheer amount of damage done to my brain, I thought my days of learning new and useful knowledge was a thing of the past. But, thankfully, I was wrong! That’s because God still had a lot He wanted and needed to teach me about who He is and what it looks like to truly follow Him.
Here’s just a few of the things I’ve had a chance to “re-learn.”
1. God can make us "strong in our weakness."
After my brain injury, many of my strengths were suddenly now my weaknesses. At first, I didn't know how to process this abrupt and unexpected change. But when I started studying the Bible and actually learning what was in it, I saw how God empowers those of us who aren’t afraid to admit our weaknesses. I think it’s just one of the many ways He like to show the world His awesome, incredible power.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9,10
2. Life is short.
I know this is simple statement. And I know it sounds cliche. But I don’t think I appreciated how true it was until I nearly lost mine. I'm now doing my very best to treat everyday like it could be my last. I know that I’m not even close to being perfect at this. I still take my life and God for granted way more often than I should. But I’m trying to think about and consider how God wants to use me each and every day
3. Actions speak louder than words.
I now realize how important the way I’m living matches with what I’m saying. I know that I need to back up my words with action. In the past, though, I’m not sure if this was always true for me. I would often have the right words to say but then do little to nothing else. However, God has been teaching me that many times words just aren’t enough and we need to be willing to “practice what we preach.”
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
James 2:14-17
4. Jesus came to give us life, both life forever in Heaven but also a life of meaning and purpose here on Earth.
I always knew that Jesus came and died so that I could go to Heaven but I never thought much about what that meant for my life today. I still believe that getting to live with Jesus forever in Heaven will be better than anything this world has to offer but I now understand how Jesus came to give us a purposeful and joy-filled life here on Earth.
5. Treat people like they’re real people and not like projects.
I think there were times in my life when I went into a relationship with some sort of hidden agenda. I don’t think my intentions were necessarily wrong or bad but I’ve learned it wasn’t the best way to interact with others. I’m now able to see that, as Christians, we are all called to treat all people with love, kindness and respect regardless of who they are or how they might respond. We do this because it’s the right thing to do and because it’s what Jesus did.
6. I learned to stop asking “why me” and started asking “why not me.”
This was a valuable lesson I learned from my wife. When I was still lying in a hospital bed and my future prognosis didn’t look promising, people would tell my wife they didn't understand why something so bad had happened to us, that it didn't make sense for something so terrible to happen to such good people. Her usual response to these people was to simply say "Why not us?" She understood how God was in control of the situation and knew He could use what we were going through for something good. She believed that God might be able to use her and how she she responded to adversity as an example for others. Her faith, strength, and courage in the midst of all this uncertainty taught me how to be confident in God's plans even when times are tough and things don’t make any sense.
7. God gives us all a story to tell - stories that He can use for something good.
I used to complain about not having a story to tell, a story that could actually help or impact others. But I now realize how wrong I was. Despite what we tend to think and what the world seems to be constantly trying to convince us, our stories don’t need some sort of emotionally driven plot line to make a difference or serve a purpose. We all have a story to tell - one God can use for something good.
8. We were not created to do life on our own.
As a result of my brain injury, I had to start using many new tools to help me function in my everyday life. I had to start writing down schedules, reminders, and notes to keep me on track each day, to help me remember what I have going on. I’ve also learned how much I need the help of other people, My friends and family have been amazing in the way they’ve accepted and helped me with my new, high level of “neediness.” But most importantly, I’ve learned how much I need God’s help, a God who had been there all along just waiting for me to give up on trying to do it all by myself.
9. Don’t judge where someone's at because you don’t know where they started.
This is such an important thing I’ve learned because it’s helped me become less judgmental about how someone is living their life. I have a very long way to go on this one but I now know how important it is to remember that everyone we encounter in life has their own story. Their lives and experiences are very different than ours, and as a result, they won’t always think the same way and believe the same things we do. And this is so important to remember if we want to relate to and connect with all the different and unique people God places in our lives.
10. Take a look at your list of priorities on a regular basis and change the order if and when needed.
Following my brain injury, I had to take a close look at my list of priorities. Many things that were once important to me I could no longer do so those were immediately taken off the list. For the things I could still do, I had to decide which ones were most important and choose to focus on these. This meant saying "no" to a lot of good things so I could say "yes" to what was better. I believe this is a great practice for everyone, even if you aren’t living with brain injury.
