by

Pastor B.J. Knefley

Life is full of ups and downs. As much as we plan and prepare, we’re often surprised by the unexpected. Sometimes, the question that comes to our minds is “Why?”. We all have wondered and questioned, but are the answers that simple? Can we attribute the events of life to a simple cause and effect, or does life happen?

Our perspective often influences our perception or interpretation of life and its events. Does life happen to me or for me? This line of thinking frequently determines whether we view life from the perspective of a victim or that of a victor. If it happens to a victim, then it happens to me. If it happens to a victor, it happens for me. Sadly, one will drag us down into a pit while the other will lift us and move us forward. Our view will shape our future.

I recently read that if you take a pot of boiling water and place both a potato and an egg into the water, one will come out hard while the other soft. The problem doesn’t lie with the water but instead with what makes up the potato and egg. It is also true with us. We each face similar circumstances in life, but what we are made of on the inside will determine how we react and respond to the same circumstances. Sadly, it’s harder to see our faults than it is to see the faults of others. It’s easy to blame, but not easy to accept personal responsibility. Why is that?

Blaming others or things for our situation is as easy as walking. If you’re not convinced, watch young children. They are swift to blame and scapegoat their behavior and actions upon others. They don’t need to be taught; it seems to come naturally. Remember the story of Adam and Eve? Adam blamed his failure and disobedience on Eve and God. Where did he learn to do this? Did he even think about what he was going to say, or did he blurt it out? If he had taken responsibility for his actions rather than blaming them on others, would the outcome have been different? Unfortunately, when we shift blame, we exacerbate the problem, making it much larger than it initially was. Think about it.