Watching the Winter Olympics fills us with wonder at the prowess and ability of human beings. When we choose to be we can be marvelous creatures. But occasionally watching the Olympics reminds us of our ordinary tendency not to take responsibility for our faults. Speed skaters blamed their suits. Some skiers blamed the soft snow or the angles of this and that. We should not be surprised. It started in Eden. Adam blamed God for giving him Eve and so it began. Scrapping children most always say, “He hit me first.”
It’s natural. All my life I have made excuses for my failures. It has never ever been my fault. I am even now excusing my behavior by saying it is natural. I was born this way. Psychotherapists earn very good livings by helping people figure out who to blame. It could have been a flawed father or mother. And it is true. Mom and Dad were flawed. We all are. It’s human to be flawed.
This brings me to II Peter 1. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature . . .” The very idea is thrilling. We do not have to be only human. God wants more than anything to be a part of our lives by being a part of us. We can have, upon request, internal strength to perform a wonder. We can overcome our native impulses to blame something or someone for our failures. Real men, real women, real champions man-up (woman-up) and instead of blaming decide to do better next time. Blaming others might make us feel good inside but rarely makes us look better to others.
Written by Roger Bothwell on February 24, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org