Thoughts On Shame And Growth.

I hired a young man to mow my yard. Once a week, I told him. He came the first time, did a fine job, took his money — and I never saw him again.

I wasn't mad because it reminded me of someone. 

I was that boy. More times than I'd like to count, I started something in a burst of good intentions — a job, a promise, a relationship — and somewhere between the starting and the finishing, the exuberance just up and left. And when it left, so did I.

I think about a boss I had once, years ago, who trusted me with more than I was able to deliver, instead of being honest with him I disappeared. I would love to make it right but he is gone.  

That kind of thing followed me around for a long time. Shame has a way of doing that.

But somewhere along the way I learned from all of the failures. Failure can shame you or teach you.  We don’t decide to never fail again, we only decide what to do with our failings. 

I still don't know what happened to that young man. Maybe his exuberance left too. If I saw him today, I would just pretend we never missed a beat and let him mow the yard.

Bless you,
Pastor