03-14-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
March 14, 2024
Have you ever found yourself in an embarrassing moment and wished you had access to a reset button? Southwest Airlines has a great series of commercials where someone is horribly embarrassed. The voice on the commercial asks, “Do you want to get away?” Since most of us don’t have the reset button that erases the memories of everyone who witnessed our stupidity, simply jumping on an airplane for a week reprieve will only delay the inevitable. I’m wondering what might be helpful in such a moment. Could it be that a God-inspired reset might be found in our own attitude toward such moments? You may have noticed in my preaching style that I enjoy some self-deprecating humor. I find that such public honesty helps to reduce people’s fears of being outed as being imperfect. After worship, people have approached me and said, “You think your moment was embarrassing? Well,  let me tell you what I did…” 1 Peter 4:8 says, “…love covers over a multitude of sins.” Maybe I would have added that humor covers many cringeworthy moments in life, as I believe humor and grace go hand-in-hand. 

Give me a reset in my own mindset that frees me from a deeply set fear of looking stupid. This is my request, O Gracious God. Amen.