Not to sound like a broken record, but Covid has really changed my habits this year. One habit was that my husband and I watched A LOT of TV nightly. We tried to mixed it up as we ran out of things that were interesting to watch.
One of the shows we watch on a regular basis (even before Covid) is Amazing Race. If you’ve never seen it-I highly recommend it. It has competition, strategy, luck and you get to see the world as you watch. So, Chuck and I decided to watch from the beginning…season 1. We are now on season 24 so this kept us busy and entertained over the past months.
The season we are on now took place in 2014. It was an all-stars season in which they asked many of the former favorites to try again. Team Kentucky was made up of Bopper and Mark, but at the last minute one had to drop out so they asked another former Kentucky favorite to step in. Mallory Ervin. (You can find out more about Mallory at malloryervin.com. Her podcast is Living Fully) This was not Mallory’s first rodeo. In fact, this is the third time she raced. I liked her from the very beginning and loved that she had such a great relationship with her racing partner, her father. So, when she was asked back, I thought this was going to be an incredible season. (It still is, by the way) This past week though was quite disappointing. Her partner, Mark, had to build a toy car (the size children can ride in) He then carried it to Mallory and said, “Take care of my backpack.” Their next task was to find a taxi to deliver this car to a kid’s school. Halfway there Mark asked where his backpack was to which Mallory answered, “I don’t know. I gave it to you.” It seems she carried it to the taxi, but then put it at his feet while he was putting the car in the trunk of the taxi. What followed next was ugly. Mark was angry. Mallory kept repeating you don’t need it I have your passport and It’s not my fault…. They ended up going back for the backpack and ultimately getting eliminated. Now, I know that TV has a way of twisting the facts, but I did hear Mark tell her to get his backpack. I think if I had been responsible for such an important item, I would have made sure Mark saw and grabbed his backpack.
But, she said it wasn’t her fault.
She said it over and over and over again.
Okay. He asked her to get it. She did. Was it Mark’s fault?
Maybe. But here is the point. Why wouldn’t she own up to it and at least feel badly that she didn’t make sure Mark saw his backpack? It was obvious he thought she was taking care of it.
I find this happening all the time.
People don’t want to take responsibility.
It is so much easier to blame and point the finger.
I mean, it started in Genesis.
God told Adam and Eve not to eat of one particular tree in the Garden of Eden. The serpent told Eve that God was keeping knowledge from her and that when she ate of the tree she would be as a god and that she would not die as God had said. So she ate and gave the apple to Adam and he ate also.
When God called for them He asked them if they had eaten of the tree and Adam said,
“Well, the woman, (that woman that You gave me, Lord.) she gave it to me.
And when the Lord asked Eve she said,
“Well, it’s not my fault, the serpent tricked me.”
Blame. From the first two humans.
Is there hope in this?
Yes.
God forgives. He paid the price when He carried our sin all the way to the cross where forgiveness became apparent even while He was still hanging there.
Can we take blame? Can we look at ourselves and try to make things right? Can we see where we are wrong and how to make it right?
Would the world be different if we did?
Perhaps instead of proclaiming, “It’s not my fault.” We should cry out, like David did, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Do you struggle with the blame game or instead wear the guilt of everything you do?
Until next time,
From the Wings 