In my 40-plus years in ministry I’ve served as a singles pastor, discipleship pastor, teaching pastor, church planter, and as a lead pastor.

I’ve served in the deep south (the land of grits, I live there now), the southwest (the land of Mexican buffets), the far west (the land of fish tacos), the mid-west (the land of Chicago hot-dawgs), and in Canada (the land of poutine; I wondered what that was too. Google it.).

Three kids, five grandkids, and seven books later, each experience has made me a more rounded leader.

Yet, as I look back, I think I’d have done a few things differently. Here’s a list of my do-overs.

1. I wouldn’t have been so much of a people pleaser.
2. I would have carved out more time to think and reflect.
3. I would have more consistently disconnected one day each week.
4. I would have spent more time building closer friendships with other pastors.
5. I would have turned off my smart-phone and computer more often.
6. I would have read twice as many books as I actually did.
7. I would have listened more and talked less.

As I enter my life’s ‘quarter-time,’ I hope to apply some of these lessons better going forward.

What would be your biggest do-over?