LIVE AND DON'T LEARN

Making the same mistake more than once maybe frustrating, but I'm not persuaded that the frustration keeps us from repeating certain errors. There are some habits that are good thing, but I'm not convinced that includes making mistakes.

Why don't we do better at not repeating the same mistakes over and over? The answer might not be as easy to face as we would like.

I think the worse thing we can do for ourselves is get trapped in the "never again" mode of thinking. Those are the will power types of conversation that sound wonderful, but often we can apply in our situation.

Perhaps the best lesson we can learn at times is when we really aren't able or willing to learn. I can think of the number of times I've encountered people with the mindset that we can do whatever we want in life if we just want to bad enough. It might be a wonderful truth if choice was the only factor controlling our actions.

It is easy to ride the crest of excuses and find some reason to explain our failures. Or we can indulge in blaming others, which might not be the truth, but it eases any sense of guilt.

For the follower of Christ, his spirit helps to bring us to the truth. One can not approach the light without seeing the stains on our lives. He doesn't promise to always cleanse of every stain in this life, but he will make us look at them.

It isn't for the purpose of condemnation. It is rather to give comfort by forcing us to lean more in his grace and forgiveness than our own desires or lies.

What a joyous hope prevails when we truly embrace the concept of forgiveness and God promises rather that watering it down through our own traditions and values. When we truly live to learn that perfection is not the path God expects from us in this life, we do step a little closer to his presence.

I've been amazed in dealing with this one person how truly sad this person is in having a sense of right or wrong. If this individual makes a mistake it is always somebody else's fault. If this person doesn't keep a promise or do what is expected it is okay.

However this same person is not willing to regard the same action in somebody as anything, but wrong. There is a name for such behavior and having a double standard. It is called being a hypocrite. Jesus called that he leaven of the Pharisees, which meant it was the part of their thinking that was truly corrupting.

Hoping if nothing else we are able to learn the simple lesson of letting God reveal to us the truth in our behavior. It does bring peace if we can rise above the need to lie to ourselves over the reasons for such behavior. And like any lesson, some will learn it, some will not.