Special Reflections

CAN you imagine that there are some benefits from keeping old newspaper clippings? I mean my old previously published columns from almost 50 years ago. For me, yes.

I have spent a while considering different visions for young people and ‘education’, and in the end I drew on my own experiences, and I have condensed my vision as an educator into one three word statement ‘courage to achieve’. I certainly had my ups and downs at school, my fair share of failures along the way, and I was taught that it wasn’t good enough to give up, or to accept defeat. For me, ‘courage’ is the word that most sums up that process of ‘getting back up’, and steeling oneself to try again.

From life experiences, I see that progress and failure are both parts of my journey. My columns are mostly a view into a mirror. I am reminded of God’s grace when I read (and wrote before) how He helped me to find solutions to problems. I also gained insight from past struggles that help with issues I am currently facing during this pandemic times. I remember one of my previous columns entitled “If failures get results”.

God has indeed been faithfully working in my life.

I read a story by Dennis Fisher, who didn’t keep publishing clippings but a spiritual journal. He advised: “Journaling may be useful to you too. It can help you see more clearly what God is teaching you on life’s journey. To begin a journal, record your struggles, reflect on a verse that is especially comforting or challenging, or write a prayer of thankfulness for God’s faithfulness.”

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, Linkedin or X – Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .