June 28, 2010

Growing through your mistakes

From the Pulpit
By Rev. Gary Hardin

Share |

You probably saw the replay of the well-known mistake made by baseball umpire, Jim Joyce. In a June 2 game between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians, Detroit's young pitcher, Armando Galarraga, had retired the first 26 batters he faced. He was one out away from accomplishing what only 20 pitchers in big league history had done — throw a perfect game.

But Joyce, the first base umpire, called the next Cleveland hitter safe at first. Every angle of instant replay proved Joyce's worst nightmare: He had botched the call. Galarraga did not get his perfect game.

I can relate to Joyce. Once when my son, Greg, played little league baseball, I volunteered to umpire first base. Like any ump does, “I called them as I saw them.” I know I made some bad calls because the mommas and daddies from the opposing team let me know. They called me names and yelled at me. One dad even threatened to beat me up after the game. My volunteer stint at serving as an umpire ranks up there with the top 10 mistakes I've made in my lifetime.

“To err is human,” the saying goes. Just being a human means you will make mistakes. Don't equate making a mistake with being a mistake.

Our mistakes do stretch us, don't they? God often uses our mistakes to develop us into wiser, stronger people. What you do next, after you've made a mistake, might be the most crucial action in your personal leadership. So how should we handle the times in our lives when we blow it?

First, and foremost, admit your mistakes. Accept responsibility for them. What Jim Joyce did next set an example. After the game, he watched the instant replay and realized he had made the wrong call. Joyce quickly owned up to his mistake. “I cost that kid a perfect game,” he tearfully admitted.

Second, repent of your mistakes. Apologize to the people who get hurt by your mistakes. Make amends for your mistakes. Offer to be part of the solution to fixing your mistakes. Show genuine remorse for what you've done. Look for ways to redeem yourself in the eyes of others. If you can't fix the problem, find someone who can.

Third, learn from your mistakes. I can still hear my dad say, “Son, we learn from our mistakes.” In fact, one of the best ways we learn valuable lessons in life is through negative experiences. If we don't learn from our mistakes we most likely will make the same mistake again. By learning from our mistakes we don't waste our failures.

Fourth, bounce back. People sometimes obsess about their mistakes and wallow in self-pity, which usually leads to quitting. But we can't allow our mistakes to cause us to give up. Here's why: Mistakes often are defining moments that turn us into mature people.

Fifth, know that failures, mistakes, are not fatal. No mistake is so big that God can't forgive you and use you later. Cling to this Bible verse: “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong” (1 John 1:9). When you mess up, seek the Lord's forgiveness, and then move forward.

The day after his blown call, Jim Joyce stood at home plate. Joyce became emotional as he prepared to call balls and strikes for that day's game. Detroit manager Jim Leyland surprised everyone by sending Armando Galarraga out to home plate to deliver the lineup card. Joyce and Galarraga embraced each other. Joyce apologized for his mistake, and Galarraga graciously accepted the apology.

Mistakes happen. How we respond to them determines whether our mistakes grow us or cripple us.

Gary Hardin is pastor of Enon Grove Baptist Church in Cedar Bluff. He and his wife, Linda, live in Centre. Comments can be sent to: garyhardin@tds.net.