All I can share is my experience, and my experience has been that so many times I have had opinions and given advice to others about matters about which I never had any experience. I was like a man who tried to tell someone how to fix his carburetor when he had never opened the hood to his own car. Even if I had worked on a carburetor before, I have to ask myself—did I actually fix it? Did my experience actually work for me? Only then do I have any strength or hope to give someone else who is having trouble with his carburetor.

When I was a preteen, my neighbor’s riding mower was messed up. Even though I had no experience, I decided that it had to be the carburetor—and I proceeded to start taking it apart. My dad about flipped when he got home. Gratefully, he did have the experience to put it back together and make it work. Since then, I have found it very helpful to talk to my dad when my lawn mower acts up, and then do what he says. Knowing nothing about fixing a car is not a bad thing. I admit my limitations and tell others, “I don’t know what you should do. I have never fixed one before.” However, I do have experience changing oil, water pumps, and even timing belts. The car has kept running after I was finished. So I can share that experience.

Often when I call my sponsor when I am frazzled and crazy, he asks me what actions I have taken. Then he says, “So David, how is that working for you?”