There’s a saying that a fool’s insanity is repeating the same mistake over and over but expecting different results. Whoever said that never went round and round with their computer password being rejected. It’s just that, in our youth, we make up for a lack of experience by being fearless; nothing ventured, nothing gained. Much of the first couple of decades were spent in fast motion and the adjustments and corrections were made on the fly. Consequences were simply a formality and who had time for that?
But then we entered the responsibility zone. Maybe it was getting married, maybe a significant loan, maybe you became a figure of authority. Now the consequences for a bad decision or lack of knowledge carried a bigger price. It was here that many choices were decided based on the amount of potential pain, not gain.
It seems that in shouldering these burdens or seeking an escape from the pain, we’re not seeing the bigger picture; that we were not meant to do this alone. Whether you are a high-octane, invincible youth; a seasoned, mortgage-heavy single mom; or a family man whose expenses are rising faster than his income; you inevitably will endure some form of set-back or correction. Just remember that your circumstances don’t define you when you have a right heart. You were made for more than the fallout from a bad decision or the lack of control over a situation or your lack of action. We are called to be faithful and obedient but too often we end up doubting and then plead to our Creator as a last resort. However, Psalms 46 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”
Bad decisions have dogged us since the apple in the garden and history has not been kind to some of the more dubious choices. The ancient Egyptians chasing the Israelites through the Red Sea, the Donner party, the Edsel, lack of life boats on the “unsinkable” Titanic, known faulty o-rings in the space shuttle Challenger, vaping e-cigarettes, convenience store shushi, etc. But here’s the thing; if we simply continue to take shortcuts in our approach to life, we will end up being traumatized when the world doesn’t play fair. Living a life of integrity, where you put your best foot forward each day, goes a long way toward avoidable incidents and accidents. And buying into behavior that ultimately has a positive influence on someone else is really creating lasting value that continues to be shared.
Of course, to make mistakes is to be human. But what is our takeaway from those lessons? It seems culturally, we’ve developed a society that is terrified to let anyone see their shortcomings. Failure is good for sharing on social media, but going viral is at the expense of the one being videoed. Many now struggle with winners and losers, in favor of credit for participation; perhaps our self-esteem needs a dose of reality. Otherwise, it would seem that succeeding generations will be reluctant to leave the bubble they create isolating themselves and end up being opposed to contributing to the world around them. Not only is experience a good teacher but the insight of King Solomon reminds us in Proverbs 1, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Mistakes have a way of repeating themselves; don’t be that guy (or gal).
“Three-minute exposure; a snapshot of life’s imperfect harmony,” by Stew McAuley.
Encouraging your Christian Worldview.