The challenge of errors and mistakes

Of all the challenges we each face, the biggest challenge to overcome is correcting the errors or mistakes we’ve each made in life. If you happen to be the sort of person that has never made a mistake then this column will not have much meaning. I assume to you, it will be just an interesting opinion that was written for everyone else. Self realization can be a difficult challenge in and of itself. Admitting our short comings is not the type of thing we grow up having conversations about. You will not attend a conference or a workshop sponsored by your employer the helps individuals to talk about their mistakes. Thus the difficulty at hand is how we deal with our errors-or the wrong decisions we’ve made.
For the record, there are some organizations that talk about mistakes and issues individuals face but these are all confidential settings and those sponsoring organizations are groups like AA which is the biggest that comes to my mind. For those that have never made a mistake, it is easy to judge individuals who would attend such a group and consider those participating to be a sub-type that doesn’t comparing to you. The Bible has some great advice for those willing to step up to the challenge and over overcome their individual mistakes. I personally have always been challenged with the Bible recommendation to remember that any fault I see another person facing, that could just as easy be me. When you realize that the only difference between you and others is the answers we accepted or gave this is a start. I have shared with individuals many times in counseling conferences that I understand what drugs are and when I was asked if I wanted any I always said no. That decision doesn’t make me any better then those that said yes, but my answer provided me greater opportunity instead of limiting my options because of my decision. Remembering that the situation we witness others in could just as easily by yourself creates a sense of understanding and a taste of mercy that makes you want to share it with others.
The next step in correcting our errors and mistakes is to learn from those situations. The desire to experience mercy and understanding is something most folks don’t have any problem with requesting. We want judges in district and circuit courts to dismiss our tickets and to forgive or mistakes. We want teachers and professors allow us to turn our papers in late and not on time. We want our parents to help us, and if they punish us, we want them to change the discipline after we serves some of our “time out”. Forgiveness once, we can easily agree with as a good practice but what about request, 3, 4, and 5? If we are continuing to repeat these types of moments, it’s pretty clear that we are not learning from our mistakes how to correct them; we are only learning to keep asking for another chance.
Correcting the errors in choices we’ve made or decisions we elected are neither always easy nor fun. One thing is for certain. If we remember and learn as we go we are miles ahead in reaching the ultimate destination and Jesus is a great friend for the journey.

Until then