Childish ways

 I love the lines from a song called What It’s Like, by Everlast…   

 I’ve seen a rich man beg,

I’ve seen a good man sin,

I’ve seen a tough man cry.

I’ve seen a loser win,

I’ve seen a sad man grin,

I’ve heard an honest man lie.

I’ve seen the good side of bad,

The down side of up,

And everything between.

 

When I was a child, I thought everything was black and white.  There was good and evil and right and wrong.  Either you were a “good guy” or a “bad guy”.  Now I know better.

 I’ve actually been the good guy.  And unfortunately, I have to admit, I’ve been the bad guy.  I don’t mean really bad but I’ve lied, I’ve gossiped, I’ve been petty,  I’ve broken someone’s heart.  It’s okay, I know I’m forgiven.  I’m sorry and I believe in redemption and second chances. (and third and fourth…)

 I love many people who have been the bad guys.  Actually, I think if we are honest, we have all played both sides of the coin.  I would venture to say this contradiction is what makes people interesting. 

 We grow from our mistakes.  We have layers.  Our failures help us understand other people’s failures.  We have compassion and empathy because we’ve “been there”.  I think having been on both sides also helps us forgive.  If we’ve had to ask for forgiveness, we’ve had to hope someone would give it.  I think that makes it easier to forgive. 

 As we get older, we realize that everything isn’t black and white.  This doesn’t mean there is no right or wrong but I think it means there are no perfect people.  (So we can all stop pretending…)

We also recognize some of the things we’ve done that aren’t so great and we make better choices.  We are not as selfish or as greedy or as careless.  We recognize that our choices reflect our character. We pray that we will make good choices.  We pray because as we get older we also recognize we cannot do this alone.  We need God’s help.  This is the first step to having an authentic relationship with God.  We recognize and admit that we are not perfect.  We are not as young, tough, smart, strong, invincible, irreplaceable, cool, as we once thought we were.  

 In our humility we ask for the grace and the courage to act like a grown up. 

 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

-1 Corinthians 13:11