Drive or Coast or Stopped or Reverse?

When I first saw this past Friday’s FMF word, I wasn’t immediately energized to write something. However, as I have reflected on my life, and on the working relationships I have enjoyed, I had a germ of an idea. Drive reminds me of “coasting.” Coasting reminds me of “stopped.” And the word stopped makes me think of going in reverse.

Wayne Lynn Winquist, 1969 High School Senior Picture

1965 Coasting in High School

When I was a young teen, I started my freshman year in High School at Naperville High School. I was a coaster. I was content to just get by. If I was average, I was content. That was wrong-headed, and dare I say it, stupid.

Wayne was content to be average – or is it mediocre?

1966 Coasting a Bit Faster but Still Coasting

Our family moved from Naperville to New Berlin Wisconsin during my freshman year. I was dismayed that I went from a “high school” to a “junior high school in Brookfield Wisconsin. At Pilgrim Park, 9th grade was probably there because the high school was overcrowded. Because I had fewer friends, and less distractions, I studied a bit more. However, I would classify my study as faster coasting.

A little improvement, but still room for much more! Wayne L Winquist’s grade report.

1966-67 Starting to do a little Pedaling

I was finally back in high school in the fall of 1966: Brookfield Central High School. As you can see from my report card, I went from mostly C work to “above average” work in most of my classes. I liked drafting, German, geometry, driver’s education, and English, so it wasn’t too surprising that those were my better grades. I never was a big fan of physical education. It usually was run by men with a desire to build a football team. Halfway through my sophomore year I was called to the principal’s office and heard these dreaded words: “You are in the wrong school district.” In other words, whoever sent me to the Brookfield school district goofed.

Brookfield Central High School beginning of sophomore studies. Wayne L Winquist

1967-1969 New Berlin High School Driving

After my entry to my fourth school in two years, I was basically friendless. That, however, turned out to be a good thing. My teachers became my best friends, and I respected them. I even remember some of their names: Frau Schiekel, Mr. Sanders and Mr. Harder. As you can see, my grades improved considerably when I went into DRIVE. I also started to do things I would have never dreamed of doing: writing an essay in German!

My 1969 Senior Year grade report for New Berlin High School.
German Essay Contest Winners in 1968
After I got serious about my books, I moved from 50% to the top 15%.
Thankfully, the prophecy in this school newspaper was completely wrong!

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

Followers of Jesus study the scriptures and realize that the story of the Bible is about Jesus. He said the law and the prophets were talking about him. In other words, the gospel (good news) of the Bible is Jesus.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,…” 2 Timothy 2:15-16

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.