When you Stumble, be Humble

“Oftentimes, many times, it’s our prideful human nature to double down on our traditions and what we believe is true. Offense blinds us to the human condition and to other’s experience. It leaves us fighting to be right instead of holy.“

- Jenni Starling

Once upon a time, I was a 20-something year old. I was fearless. Unstoppable, I was blind to a world that would hurt you. I believed in the underdog, heck I was the underdog. I believed that justice would always rectify the wrongs in the world. I believed that love conquered all. 

What is beautiful about being young is the lens in which you see the world. I wanted to RULE THE WORLD, and I was determined to. I made foolish choices and trusted the wrong people, but those choices were locked away as lessons learned. There was no one there to capture it. There was no social media to shame me. In fact, I got my first cellphone when I was 21 and my first email address in college. I went to a “computer lab” to write my papers. Myspace was all the craze. And Facebook was a thing for those crazy “college kids.”

I guess that is why this new “social” world is so hard for me. I remember a time before all of this. I remember a time when people actually talked, when things that popped inside your head were not actually put out there for the world to see and when the things we type now on a social platform were journaled with a lock and key which made them a little more sacred. But, there is no lock and key anymore. It’s changed me and us. 

One of my favorite quotes of all time is, “What people think about you is none of your business.” I 100% firmly believe this statement. However, it is none of your business until it is your business. Am I right? 

Currently, we are seeing the underbelly of a lot of people. We are seeing things we want to unsee, hearing things we want to unhear and it has changed the way we see each other. While these words may seem innocent, many times they dehumanize our friends and neighbors. 

One of my favorite books The Bait of Satan says: 

“Trials in this life will expose what is in your heart—whether the offense is toward God or others. Tests either make you bitter toward God and your peers or stronger. If you pass the test, your roots will shoot down deeper, stabilizing you and your future. If you fail, you become offended, which can lead to defilement with bitterness.”

Which leads us to here and now. Offended. Bitter. 

So how in the holy heck do we navigate this? How do we say our thoughts, hold space for people who need to be heard and respect views that we may adamantly disagree with? How do we not be offended by the wrong things and empowered by the right things? It is so confusing and hard. However, when I get into spaces like this when things are not clear, I replace confusion with the truth. And the truth Always comes from… you got it, Jesus. 

2 Timothy 2:24-26 says: 

“And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”

Oftentimes, many times, it’s our prideful human nature to double down on our traditions and what we believe is true. Offense blinds us to the human condition and to other’s experience. It leaves us fighting to be right instead of holy. The Bait of Satan also says that “Offended people hurt, and their understanding is darkened. They begin to judge others by assumption, appearance and hearsay.” Pride will keep you from admitting maybe you are wrong. The more our hearts are hardened by offense and sin, the more resistant we become to God. 

So, today and the days to come I want to challenge us with this question: 

It is more important to help our neighbor or prove ourselves right?

I want to encourage us to find common ground even if we can’t see it at first. I want to encourage us to keep the love of God as our motivator to love our neighbor. When we stumble, let’s be humble. “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peacefully with all men.” - Romans 12:18. 

Be Well.