Well, it finally happened.

It took all the way until January 5, but I finally made my first mistake of 2024. 

Oh well. So much for that resolution.

Of course, I am joking. The mistake I made today – thinking I was supposed to pick Jim up at the nearbyWalmart rather than the Walmart all the way across town, thereby not allowing myself adequate driving time to get there – was at least the 54^th or 55^th mistake of this new year. 

How is your mistake scorecard looking so far?

Despite our best efforts… despite striving for flawlessness in every endeavor… despite the occasional dire consequences involved, we each make mistakes. 

Some mistakes are small and inconsequential. Thanks to discovering my error early and some good luck with traffic lights, I was only two minutes late to pick up Jim. 

Other mistakes are grave. Their consequences ripple endlessly through space and time. Think Titanic. Think Three Mile Island. Think space shuttle Challenger.

I almost always experience my mistakes as a punch in the gut. They catch me off guard. I intended to ZIG, but due to some critical miscalculation(s) along the way I ended up ZAGGING. 

Besides apologizing to the aggrieved parties, my post-mistake process usually involves trying to reverse engineer things to see where I got off track. This process can feel like rationalizing or excuse-making. And sometimes it probably is. But my intent is always learning. Learning for the purpose of future mistake prevention.

The challenge I still find myself dealing with – in the realm of mistakes, that is – is the challenge of taking the appropriate retrospective relationship to them. I seem to toggle between being helplessly crushed by their gravity, or conversely – like a notable recent U.S. presidential candidate – flippantly dismissive of their importance.

Do you ever do that? 

One would think that having gained this truly prodigious number of candles on my birthday cake – and after making as many mistakes as I have – I would have long ago learned how to properly assess and neatly file them away.

Sadly though, I haven’t. There are mistakes I made over 20 years ago that still nag at me. In fact, I have been known to recite the names of people I hurt in the past – unintentionally, of course – and silently beg their forgiveness.

It is at times like these that I lean most heavily on and am most profoundly grateful that I have a Savior. A Savior that sacrificially took the entire weight of my abundant mistakes upon His own shoulders. A Savior who set me free by reminding me of my Creator’s unconditional love, regardless of how badly I have screwed up. A Savior who has declared that my life (and yours too, incidentally) is NOT defined by the mistakes I/we have made, but by the grace that flows copiously from his outstretched hands. A Savior who looks on each of us with eyes of compassion and says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NRSVU).

Look. Jesus knows you screwed up. He knows you chose unwisely, got sloppy, stepped on toes, cut corners, slept on the job, and committed some real bone-headed mistakes along the way. But for him, in the words of a wise theologian, the worst thing is never the last thing. In his eyes, what lies ahead for you is of immeasurably greater significance than what lies behind you. 

Tomorrow do better. Be more cognizant of all the possible outcomes of your actions. Consider perspectives beyond your own. 

But don’t give up hope when you stumble. (And you WILL stumble.)

He’s got you.

Abundant blessings;