humbled. again.

Have you ever heard the saying "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"? Sometimes I think the same is true on the road to heaven!

There is so much that we CAN influence and control, and then there is ONLY so much we can influence and control. We can have the best of intentions, a heart in the right place, do our best to be humble, try our hardest to be a good friend in the faith... and still get it wrong. Or at least not right.

And this is EXACTLY why I removed words like right and wrong from my vocabularly years ago. They are divisive and arrogant, and if we are all part of the family of God then we must be careful not to let anything come out of our mouths that does not edify the body. Though I may be branded as a liberal for such a statement, as a father I have witnessed that my daughter chooses "less than the best" more often than she chooses "wrong". The significant difference between these two philosophies is how it plays out when we approach the other party.

If I approach Camille with the conviction that she is wrong, then I must be right and the only resolution - regardless of things I may be unaware - is that she submit to my rightness (which is not to be confused with my "righteousness").

However, if I approach Camille with the conviction that she has choosen less than her best, then I have the opportunity - a graciously difficult one, mind you - to seek to understand why she chose the way she did and then to partner with her in helping her choose more wisely in the future. This is much more healthy for our relationship and for her future. And, I believe this is how God, our heavenly Father, parents us, His children. Once we accept our position as one of his children, his sole aim is to lavish his love on us that we might lavish his love on others, more and more (keeping in mind that God is both love and truth).

Back to the "proverbial fan" story...
I found myself having a conversation today that started over 6 months ago. I, with the best of intentions, was trying to encourage, lead and challenge a brother whom I love. Unfortunately, my communication with and understanding of him was less than my best, though my intentions were good. Neither of us did anything mean or inappropriate, yet feelings were hurt, misunderstandings were had and the relationship suffered. However, each of us was willing to submit to our love for God and our love for one another MORE than to our desire to be right.

I may have choosen less than my best along the road (to heaven) but I am grateful to be the friend of a man who knew my heart and didn't declare me wrong.

It is humbling to live as one
who knows he is not innocent,
yet is declared "not guilty"
by the Almighty God.