Mistakes happen. It’s part of life. Since we were young, we seemed to be plagued by mistakes. It seems like it’s in our nature to just keep on doing wrong, keep on falling, keep on committing mistakes. And we learn from it – that’s why we say that ‘experience is the best teacher’.
It’s been a while since I last wrote an entry. Have been through a whirlwind of activities lately- went scuba diving, had a bunch of client meetings, birthday celebrations, etc… (and it’s not yet over, too). God is really pushing me to get out there and get to work!
Mistakes make us remember
We are taught by our parents, we are taught in school, we are taught by our mentors in church. But even so, there are a handful of times in our lives when we sway away from their advices and wisdom and we commit mistakes that we were warned and taught about. And then we learn AFTER we’ve experienced the fall. We learn AFTER we’ve been through the consequences. We learn AFTER we’ve made the wrong choice.
And then regret comes in.
Then we learn. Then we try our very best not to do it again. There is a resolve that stirs us. It backs our learning. It reminds us of our mistake.
It reminds us of what we’ve lost.
Costs become visible
We learn almost in an instant from mistakes. Stubbornness and pride suddenly seems out of the picture. Why?
Because mistakes help us realize the cost.
I usually drive around even if I’m not familiar with the place. Then I get lost. And I make turns here and there and I ask around for directions. It’s a big learning experience when you make a wrong turn – especially when it takes you to the expressway and you need to pay the highly unreasonable toll.
Right there and then, you know the cost of your mistake. Firstly, I paid money for the toll. Secondly, I wasted expensive and oh-so-precious gas. Thirdly, I wasted time – valuable time which can never be brought back.
After every getting-lost-on-the-road experiences, I usually never forget how to get to a certain place anymore. Yes, mistakes can definitely be a great teacher. But when given a choice, I’d rather not. Why?
Because there is no rewind button. You can’t undo time. You can’t undo the damage you can cause another person. Mistakes often affect you and individuals around you. Yes, wisdom and learning is better than gold. That’s why you have to take it from the experiences of others and the Word of God. You don’t have to go through all the mistakes to gain wisdom.
All you need is an understanding heart on how you are going to apply the mistakes of others in your life. It’s not easy. That’s why you need God. Pray for wisdom and let God guide you.
