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How embarrassing
Here’s my heresy story of the year (so far):
- As is my norm, on my first day of study for last week I read a number of textual experts. One 19th century scholar shared an excellent point about a particular term, only he mistakenly referred to the term appearing in the wrong verse. The point was still solid, although it would have had even more impact in the correct verse context. No big deal, but I chuckled at his little goof as I added his point to my own pile of observations.
- The second day of my studying, I forgot about the intricacies of the previous day’s work, focusing instead on the big-picture meaning of the passage I was to teach. I labored for hours and pulled together all the various parts into something bearing a small resemblance to a sermon. It was rough, but at least it was all together.
- The third day of work, I began to ruthlessly edit: eliminating the good-but-not-necessary, changing verbiage to fit the audience, and adding transitional comments for flow. In the ensuing days slides and illustrations were added, and the whole thing practiced repeatedly.
- On the sixth day, I taught. God blessed – as He always does with His word. The experience was joyful and convicting for us all.
- On the seventh day, the mail started arriving. There were many sweet and positive notes of lives touched and decisions made because of our time worshipping in scripture. And there was one letter asking for clarification on a particular term. I dutifully went back to get some data for the questioner, only to find…
The very thing I hate
I made the same mistake which had caused me to laugh! Seriously! Plain as day, I put the term in the wrong verse. Didn’t catch it during any of the other work sessions, not even when using the most powerful language software ever developed. In my horror, a few lessons arose from the experience:
- It is very easy to become the very thing we hate.
- One must continually battle entropy, sloppiness, and error. [I have since changed the way I check each week’s work.]
- Pride does indeed go before stumbling.
- I need to accept the same grace I extended our forefather – unintentional mistakes are worth a snicker, not a flogging.
What about you?
Now, having read this laughable episode, it’s your turn. If you wish, send me a note about some similar experience in your life. When have you made the same error that you previously pointed out in others? Your story may help me learn new ways to watch for my future mistakes, and it will likely allow me a chuckle as well. After this past week, I need one!
God bless,
Wayne