The stupid things people do

When was the last time you did something really stupid? Now just so we are
"on the same page" as they say, let me share the definition of "stupid".
Merriam Webster dictionary defines it as, "given to unintelligent decisions
or acts, (i.e. acting in an unintelligent or careless manner)." They also
share the following synonyms: airheaded, bird brained, bonehead, boneheaded,
brain-dead, brainless, bubble headed, chuckleheaded, dense, dim, dim-witted,
doltish, dopey, dorky, dull, dumb, dunderheaded, empty-headed, etc.

My wife was sick with the flu a couple of days this week and I was acting
care giver. Things went pretty well in general and I was able to keep on top
of just about everything with her and my job requirements. Tuesday evening I
fixed supper, was doing the wash and working on some things on the computer
in the office. We finished supper and I noticed our dog cleaning my plate (I
had carelessly set too near the floor), so carried it to the kitchen and
placed it on the counter, put the wash into the dryer, moved on to the
office and took care of a couple of things. On the way back through the
kitchen I thought I'd have another dollop of food, so I spooned it out on
the clean plate on the counter, ate about half of it and realized the plate
was clean because the dog had cleaned it! I thought, "Oh well, too late to
worry about it now!" Of course the next day I came down with the flu, at
least I think it was the flu!

Again, when was the last time you did something stupid, dopey, dorky or
dumb? For most of us it would be more often than we like to admit. Of course
most of the time we do something stupid, we look around quickly to make sure
no one saw us. (I shared my stupid act with my wife, who laughed way too
hard and who shared it with her sister and the list goes on).

What about the stupid, (dumb) things we do spiritually, do we treat them in
the same way? What about the unkind words, the angry thoughts, the failure
to reference God or put him first in our lives. How do we view our
interaction with our family, friends, neighbors or co-workers, do you ever
do dumb things in those relationships (acting in an unintelligent or
careless manner)? If you answer no, then you are an exceptional human being.
All of us mess up in our lives and our relationships on a regular basis;
it's what we do afterwards that makes the difference.

God's word tells us that we all sin (no exceptions) in 1 John 1:8-9: "If we
claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the
truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."

As the saying goes, "when you mess up, fess up!" Confession is where change
of the heart begins. That's where we begin to recognize "stupid things" in
advance and stop ourselves before we do them again.

I don't think I ever ate off the dog's plate before and I doubt I will do so
again. I do know however, that I will probably continue to do other dumb
things in my life and relationships. I also know that if I confess my sins,
God is faithful to forgive them. How are you doing in that area?

Russ Lawson