WYDN

Negative thoughts can fill a book.  We hear stories, and tend to remember stories, of people who made horrible decisions.  Some of those horrible decisions had equally horrible consequences.  Some of them were publicized and we promptly judged the person whose unflattering mug shot was plastered on the news. 

But, my friend, the good from a forgiven wrong can fill a library.  For every 20-second news clip exposing the latest skeleton-filled closet, let’s agree that there are hundreds of people who have effectively progressed through life despite their mistakes, despite the embarrassing outcomes.  Let’s consider for a minute that our neighbor who made a terrible decision or two in high school actually turned out to be an authentic, genuine soul. 

Let’s remember that our friend or spouse thought, said, or did something that holds them hostage every day.  What if – “and believe me, this is a hypothetical” – what if, somebody’s regret is the chain holding him to the wall of defeat?  Does our world benefit from that chain?  Is our community more productive from the unhealed wound that could become a productive scar if only the shackles were removed? Do we really benefit from re-opening a wound of regret that might have just healed?

Take the story of a well-respected political leader who caught a glimpse of beauty from his roof.  His passions were ignited at first sight.  This king, who was revered as a brave warrior and wise leader fell hard in a second.  A second.  Promptly after seeing the stunningly beautiful girl, he sent his messengers to learn about her.  So enraged was his passion that he his mind ignored the words, “she’s married”.  What he did next led to a series of serious mistakes, a steamy affair and, ultimately, murder. 

They hooked up quickly… and effectively, inasmuch as she became pregnant with the king’s child.  What’s worse, her husband was a soldier at war for the king! 

To intensify the drama, her husband was a stand-up guy.  A warrior who refused to leave his soldiers, even though his commander ordered him to take a break from the war and visit his beautiful wife.  He slept on a mat guarding the city, refusing to abandon his soldiers.

That’s not enough drama, though.  The king became so shamed by his affair that he orchestrated a valiant death for his mistress’s husband.  Indeed, while her husband was on the front lines of battle, the king ordered the rest of his troops – the very guys with whom the warrior stayed instead of seeing his wife – to pull back without him.  He had a beautiful wife at home.  He had bonds with his warrior brothers.  He had pride in his work.  And he stood his ground as the tide of his fellow soldiers inexplicably receded.  His last thoughts must have been filled with confusion and betrayal. 

To compound the many errors, the king then took the warrior’s wife as his own.

Was this king an entirely horrible person?  Actually, no.  The king possessed a sense of justice.  He looked out for the little guy.  He rooted for the underdog.  (II Sam. 12:1-5). Indeed, he grew up as the runt of the family.  His heart was typically kind toward others and he usually was humble in God’s presence.  But gracious, did he mess this one up. 

Imagine if David would have been defined solely by this mistake.  What if he would have fallen deeper into the cover-up?  What if his response to Nathan’s confrontation in 2 Samuel 12 would have been defiant and filled with pride?  Would we still have the depth of wisdom from Psalms? 

Uriah the Hittite suffered as a man with few earthly treasures.  But, the role he played as the subject whose suffering led to Psalm 32 carries such great value that we cannot conclude he died in vain. 

In fact, he may have inspired the Psalm that many have as a mantra today:

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Psalm 51. 

But why can we sit here and move on, forgiving the king for what he did to this poor soldier?  Why? Because he became broken and contrite about his error, as evidenced by Psalm 51:17,

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
     a broken and contrite heart
     you, God, will not despise.

Even in II Samuel 12, after David’s lamenting and the love child’s early passing, David had a re-birth.  He cleaned himself up, comforted Bathsheba, and they had another son, who carried forward another generation of wisdom. 

Let’s look at ourselves.  Do we focus heavily on our mistakes and dwell on the fallout from them?  Are our thoughts consumed every day by our errors and betrayals? If so, there’s a good chance our thoughts are chaining us to the wall of regret, keeping us from moving out of the cell and into fruitful life. 

Let’s look at our attitudes toward others.  Do we invest hours every day latching onto juicy headlines about people who made horrible mistakes and dramatically hurt others?  Do we allow our brains to enter judgment mode and decide their fate without knowing the depths of their heart?  Do we sell them short, forgetting that a contrite heart can bring good from bad?  Are we the chain holding them to the wall of regret?

Let us not forget when reflecting on ourselves – or deciding how we view others – it’s not where you’ve been, or where you are now…

It’s What You Do Next. 

Bene-action:

Make a WYDN memento to keep with you for a week, and journal whether the reminder prompted you to change a negative thought into a positive action.