Mr. John Strain: Finish What You Start

Author: Caleb Loy| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25

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Human nature tends to make us run when life becomes challenging. Drawing on his experiences as an Ambassador College student, a salesman, and a minister, Mr. John Strain urged the Living Education students to finish what they started.

Mr. Strain began by reminding us that we have a few months left of Living Education, which is nearly 18% of our time here. While the end of the program may be rushing closer, there is still time for us to analyze where we are and improve upon it.  He challenged us to think about how we will finish our school year. No matter how good a start we had, if we end poorly, that is what we will take away.

The brain rewards completion. Completing projects provides us with a hit of dopamine, which encourages us to do it again. The brain can be rewired, whether for good or bad, and it is up to us to develop it positively. He gave the example of when we started praying. When we started, it was difficult, and there was little desire to do it, but it became easier after consistently doing it. It’s not easy at all times, but it’s still easier. Famous poet Henry David Thoreau said, “All endeavour calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hours toil.”

However, some endeavors in life can never really be complete. He discussed how our venture to grow in God’s character has no end date. Daily, we need to put to death the old carnal spirit until we get resurrected as spirit beings. 

In closing, Mr. Strain asked if we knew what the average for life in general was. He gave a definition that his brother had once told him. Average is the best of the worst and the worst of the best. He encouraged us to strive to become better than average, to fight that last mile, and to give it all we have through these last two months of Living-Ed. Embrace the last 18% of the program and end on a high note. None of us wants to be just average—do you?