“Is everybody ready?”, the teacher asked. I certainly wasn’t. It was the early 1980's and I was in my high school typing class. I had taken it as an elective course because taking French or Spanish language seemed too tough. Now I wished I hadn’t picked it. My fingers were shaking and my heart was pounding. I had thought we would just be learning to touch type, not be tested on speed and accuracy. In addition to this I was the only Freshman in the class. Most of the other students were Juniors or Seniors. My puberty addled body felt too uncoordinated to be typing at such a high speed.

“Hands on home keys. Eyes on book. Ready. Type.”, said the teacher. Suddenly the room was alive with 30 electric typewriters’ keys being pounded on. I tried my best to keep up, but it was clear being a secretary wasn’t in my future. While I didn’t make that many errors my typing speed was horribly slow and I knew I wasn’t going to get a good grade on this test. I really regretted taking this class and wished I could be learning phrases in French instead.

Now 43 years later I am so happy that I did take that class and learned how to touch type. It has helped me write countless stories with God’s inspiration flowing through my heart and mind and into the keys on my computer keyboard. It has helped me to write letters and e-mails full of kindness to share with friends and family. It has helped me to do what I was meant to do and share what I was meant to share in this life. I thank God for leading me to take that class.

This life is a long and winding road for most of us and only Our Father in Heaven can see the whole way. He gives us the people we need to meet, the skills we need to learn, the talents we need to have, and the love we need to share. May we embrace them all with a grateful soul and a happy heart, even when we don’t why at the time.