Ever have One of THOSE days?

Today was a big one for me.

The transport bus this morning should have been a warning for me that I was going to have "ONE OF THOSE DAYS".  It was an early report morning, 0600, the bus was almost full of bleary eyed trainees.  I was in the very back of the bus riding along silently when a fellow classmate asked what i was so pensive about.

I had been thinking about my friend, Bill Ludwig.  Bill was a fellow trainer, more like a mentor, several years back.  He was a giant of a man, with a tender heart, willing to share any knowledge freely, openly, without thinking more of himself.  Bill had more training knowledge that had been lost from him than I could ever hope to gain in a lifetime.  He and I would co-train classes together where we could almost finish each others sentences, thoughts, and ideas - without being offended or offensive.  He had the most amazingly simple outlook toward life, one that I hope to achieve.  I write this to let you know how training can be a conducive environment for all participants to facilitate effective learning of the materials without the trainers getting in the way of the learning objectives.

You are probably wondering why I would be reminiscing about Bill while attempting to learn the duties of a flight attendant, well as the day wore on we were given over to a "trainer" who was the "nails on the chalkboard" for me.  As a former trainer of trainers, I find it difficult to learn when a really poor trainer is leading a class.  I sometimes can't focus on the learning objectives of the course because I am so distracted by the mannerisms and nervous ticks being displayed by the facilitator.

I was so frustrated that by the end of class I nearly failed the daily test being administered for the portion of class the "trainer" was facilitating.  Thankfully I passed by the skin of my teeth, something not comforting to my already worn psyche.  I was visibly shaking as I returned to the bus waiting zone; spoke to no-one on the ride back to the hotel; and disappeared to a lonely, but refreshing dinner before anyone could approach me.

God had other plans than to let me wallow in pity.  he placed into my mind Bob Willey, a mentor, confidant, and brother in Christ.  Bob and I spent several minutes in prayer over the phone before we rekindled each other to face another day in waiting for paradise.

Thank You God for friends to shoulder the load.