INSPIRASUNS

Last week I made a mistake, I gave some incorrect information to a guest who had come to the church for an event. He was a wonderful gentleman, and we had the best conversation, during which I found out he was 93 years old 🙂 . He had come for a meeting that morning and I for the life of me couldn’t remember it being scheduled. It’s been pretty busy, as you know if you’ve been reading this little blog. Anyway, I politely said I was pretty sure there wasn’t anything being held that day. I checked the calendar, and unfortunately, I skimmed right over it amid other things there 😦 . Little did I realize that he had arrived almost an hour before the meeting, (that I missed on the calendar). After our pleasant conversation, I walked with him to his car and he shook my hand and thanked me for taking time with him, he was heading home to call the organizers of the meeting.

Later in the morning, the woman who was organizing the meeting came through the office to ask for assistance with setting up sound in the room where they were meeting. She went to see one of our clergy, whom she had worked with to schedule this particular meeting. Almost instantly I realized that THIS was the meeting the wonderful gentleman was seeking earlier. I immediately ran outside to see if by some chance he was still there or had come back so I could apologize to him. He wasn’t there.

I made my way to the meeting room where the group was assembling. I told the organizer what had happened, that I had totally missed this meeting when he was there. She asked his name and I told her. She told me I should have asked someone in the office because they knew about this meeting. I apologized multiple times. I asked if she had a number for this gentleman and I would call him personally. She picked up her cell and called his number, putting it on speaker. His wife answered, he had not returned home yet, but she would get him the message of what had happened. At least we told her that I had made the mistake and to please let him know how sorry I was.

I walked away from this encounter feeling so bad, not only because I’d made the mistake but because the woman organizing the meeting was so…almost unforgiving. She seemed very upset, even though others there in the room said that this gentleman got confused easily, and he would be there eventually when he got the message. I just felt bad, how could I have made this simple of a mistake?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this encounter over the past week. I’ve talked with Father a lot about it, asking for forgiveness and for the opportunity to improve. I’ve asked him to help soften the heart of the woman who was so irritated with me.

This morning as I talked with Father, this situation came to mind again. What I heard next was the parable of the adulteress whom the Pharisees wanted to stone to death for her crime. Jesus said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you cast the first stone”. They all walked away.

Friends, we are all imperfect. We all make mistakes, and will probably continue to make mistakes. Let us learn from those mistakes, let us help others to learn from those mistakes, and let us put down the stones in our hands. Judging helps no one, the only judgment that is important is the ultimate judgment in front of Father one day. At that judgment, I hope to hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant”. We’re here to lift others when they stumble, not step on them. So, let’s do just that 🙂 .

Have a great day friends 🙂 .

Luke 6:37
Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.