So You Tell Me You've Never Made A Mistake?
With so much going on the world today, you'd think the lead-in story on today's news would be the odd weather pattern, the countless murders that have taken place this year, the janky presidential race. Nope. If you guessed any of those, you'd be dead wrong. Let me tell you what was... Last night, the 2015 Miss Universe pageant took place and was nationally televised. The special was hosted this year by comedian/actor/TV host, Steve Harvey, who many American families now welcome in their homes every night as the host of 'Family Feud'. When Harvey went to announce the winner, he made a mistake. Yes, a mistake. Something that a lot of people are acting like they've never made before. Yes, Mr. Harvey's was made on a different level considering that millions were watching it happen in live action and the mistake was surrounding a "coveted" pageant, but the way I see it through my four eyes is that a mistake is a mistake. The memes and countless jokes and slander that have been made surrounding this happening caused me to look at it all with a deeper view. It's a minute occurrence that further highlights a social epidemic. That epidemic is kicking a man while he's down, so to speak. In other words, when we make mistakes, we EXPECT mercy to be shown and every pardon to be given as if it's owed us, while when OTHERS make mistakes, we act all high and mighty, puff our chests up, make a mockery out of it, and act as if we've never experienced a mistake. What is a mistake anyway? "An action or judgment that is misguided or wrong." Hmm. So America, news outlets everywhere, residents of Twitter and Facebook, person that has ever lived a day on this Earth we call home, you tell me you've never made a mistake? Never? Hmm. Many may view such examination of this event as unneccesary as in some peoples' eyes, this isn't a "big deal". You're partially right if that's your take. It isn't necessarily a "big deal" but I believe that the reaction I've seen from this small deal has opened my eyes to address a bigger issue. The issue is that when others fall, we're the first to cast stones or laugh and point the finger but want mercy shown or pity given when we're the ones making the mistake. I'm wise enough to know that at any time I'm liable to make a mistake, fall from grace, or do anything that can be seen as an action or judgement that's misguided or wrong. It disgusts me that we become so quick to broadcast someone else's shortcomings yet the last to address our own. I'm praying for society that we'll do better. That we'll view life more often through the lens of grace. What is grace? Granting people a pardon despite their wrongs because you realize that it could easily be you and you'd want the same pardon extended to you in a time of misguiding or wrongdoing. Yesterday, it was Steve Harvey. Tomorrow it could be you. Maybe not on the same level, but a mistake is a mistake and we ALL stand in need of grace. Let's show some more grace, less judgment.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (NIV)