SeanDietrich.com

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES
By Sean Dietrich

I have a hard time admitting my mistakes. It’s painful for me to even think about the huge mistakes. The funny thing is, I’ve learned the most from my stupid mistakes. If I could just admit that not everything I do is always perfect, the Lord could (and would) bring a great lesson out of a real disaster.

A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE

There is a man that I know of who was fed up with the modern church, his broken family, American lukewarm-ness, and many other society issues. He told everyone that the Lord was calling him to be a missionary and share the Gospel overseas. Many people were happy with him over the news, and it wasn’t too long before he was actually in the mission field overseas.

It didn’t take long after he’d arrived overseas, that he knew that he had made a grave mistake. Immediately he could see that he was simply running from the issues that bothered him.

This man corresponded with some people by e-mail, and was extremely open and honest about the big mistake he’d made by running from his problems. The honesty in his e-mails really hit me hard, and I can truly say that I learned from his mistake. What was cool about this guy was how he refused to super-spiritualize his mistake. A real follower of Jesus admits, and learns from his mistakes.

ANOTHER HUMBLING EXAMPLE

Shamed as I am to say it, we used to be involved in a somewhat Pentecostal-type church. The things that the audiences were encouraged to do out in the seats were downright ridiculous.

Many times the entire audience was pressured to come to the “altar.” Sometimes people even waved their checks in the air before they let them go in the passing offering plate. I was involved in the mess too. Sadly, I was the worship leader who helped instigate the whole charade.

Just admitting to myself that it was all a big mistake, allows God to use that whole thing as an object lesson for me. I have learned more from my mistakes than from my triumphs. Its all part of the journey.