Learning from our mistakes - Romans 15:4 with a story, an observation and a prayer

SCRIPTURE: Romans 15:4 (NIV)
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

A STORY: from “If It Ain’t Broke, Break It,” by Robert Crag, page 194
When UCLA’s legendary basketball coach John Wooden introduced the fast-break to college basketball, his team committed the highest number of turnovers and fouls in memory. But Wooden knew “mistakes were part of the learning.” He expected them, and “knew that every opportunity for failure was equally an opportunity for success.” Wooden’s teams went on to perfect the fast-break offense used today by nearly every team in the nation. His teams also won 10 national collegiate championships in 12 years, one of the most remarkable team achievements in all of sports history.

AN OBSERVATION:
We all make mistakes. Our lives are scattered with the bits and pieces of those mistakes. There are individuals who delight in reminding us of our mistakes. But, mistakes are a part of life.

Learning from our mistakes is another matter. Evidently, some lessons are harder to learn than others because we just keep making the same mistakes over and over and over again … or at least I do.

A word here … an act there … an ill-timed comment … and, bingo, another mistake has been made.

But mistakes are the building blocks of tomorrow’s successes. We just have to learn what God and life is trying to teach us. If we don’t, we will be visiting this situation again and again until we have learned the lesson needed to move us on to the next level of our spiritual journey ... and therein lies our hope!

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, we have to admit making mistakes is painful, learning life’s lessons is painful, growing mentally, spiritually and emotionally is painful, growing is painful … but keep perusing us until we have learned the lesson. We want to grow in you … so help us, even when we become stubborn. In the name of the great teacher, Jesus. Amen.