Whose Fault Was It?

Chuck was one of those people who just couldn't make a mistake. Oh, he made them, all right, and plenty of them, too. But he couldn't own up to the fact that he was ever wrong.

If he lost a game of horseshoes it was because the shoes were too light—never too heavy! If he missed a ball it was the fault of the one who threw it, or his glove was too soft —not his fault.

If he didn't get a job done by a certain time he always had a good excuse for not meeting the deadline. He would blame it on the person who gave him the instructions. In fact, Chuck spent as much time and effort finding and making excuses for himself as he would have spent in doing the thing right the first time.

Chuck's attitude is one kind of dishonesty. Of course, he is fooling and cheating himself more than anyone else, for it doesn't take others very long to catch on to his ways. But there are lots and lots of Chucks around us. They can't face up to life; they can't take it.

Can you take it? Can you admit your faults? Are you big enough to take the blame for what you do and brave enough to tell the truth when you fail? Ask yourself these questions again, slowly this time. Face yourself with them. Look in the mirror and ask yourself these questions again.

God knows our faults. He knows our weaknesses, and when and why we fail. But don't let that frighten you. You can't help it if God knows about you. So, face it. Ask him to help you work it out.

When I meet something too big for me to handle, O God, help me to be wise enough to know it, brave enough to admit it, and strong enough with your help to try to do it.