Made any mistkaes lately?

Made any mistkaes lately?

During one of the talks I heard this weekend, the speaker told us of her worry about the idea of perfection. A minister helped her with this worry, equating the idea of striving to perfection as striving to wholeness. This relieved her mind, because, as she said, “I can grow.” I liked that statement. “I can grow.”

We all make mistakes. I, for one, certainly expect to continue to make them. I’m thinking about one in particular from yesterday – it wasn’t big, it doesn’t mean anything in the general scheme of life, and (truly) I am not worried about it. It was annoying, I must say, that not only did I make the mistake, but I was blaming someone else for it at the time. It is humbling to find out that what I thought was someone else’s mistake was actually my own. I’ve apologized for the mistake, and been assured of forgiveness by the response, but I did learn a few things from this tiny misstep.

Do you know what I learned? That I’m glad I make mistakes. Surprised?

I was reminded yesterday in an email that I “am human, too.” It was meant as a “don’t fret” kind of a remark, and also as a joke (We had just been discussing the meaning of Jesus’ humanity for a class we’re teaching). I am certainly aware that I am human, and I’m glad of it. What are the alternatives? I certainly don’t want the pressure of “always right perfection.” How horrible that would be. I like the relief that comes from “I can grow” versus “I must be perfect.”

Also, in that “I can grow” philosophy is the idea that we will take risks. If I weren’t making mistakes, then I have a feeling that I would be risking nothing. I would be sitting at home, folding washcloths into perfect little squares, and touching no one. If we grow, we will risk. If we risk, we will make mistakes. It is inevitable. So the fact that I mess up, that I make mistakes, is evidence that I’m at least doing something.

While I was thinking about this on the way to work this morning, my son called from middle school. If you are a parent, you know that this is usually not good news. In our case, it usually means that something has been forgotten – something of “vital” importance. He was calling this morning to tell me that the Fall Sports Banquet is tomorrow evening, and he needs to know how many reservations we want to make. TOMORROW EVENING? Either the sport banquet planners at the middle school plan events at the very last minute, or our son has once again forgotten to keep us informed. Shall we have three guesses as to which happened? Look at that – my son made a mistake – like mother, like son. The awareness of our own fallibility makes us forgiving. I’ll get over the fact that he has once again failed to communicate (after I tell him how annoyed that makes me, and how much he needs to do better), and I can do that because I know we all (especially me) make mistakes.

As I was driving my younger son to school this morning, after dropping off the older one, I turned right at an intersection (headed to work) instead of left. “Mom! Where are we going?” I rolled my eyes, and turned the car around so as to head to school. In the process, my tires squealed (Hey, Steve, that’s the 3rd time this week – what’s up with my tires?). J said, “M---oooaaah—mmmmm, you keep making mistakes.”

Yes, I do, and while I wish I didn’t, and I do regret them, I’m grateful for them all the same.

(and then Starbucks got my drink order wrong. What's up?)
Image: The creek in the park during the tennis tournament.