Imperfection

Like most of you, I’ve been following the fallout from the death of George Floyd. This is an incredibly difficult time for our nation, for people of color, for police officers, and for anyone who cares about how others are treated. I was impressed by President Scogin’s email and if you did not read it, please do so.

We are, of course, imperfect humans — and I surely include myself in that category. I know I will disappoint some of you for doing or saying too little and disappoint others for doing or saying too much. Just as I’m not perfect, our journey together toward a perfectly unified family of God will not be perfect. 

President Scogin

I value a leader who calls out his own imperfection and calls for grace as we journey forward. As an office, a college, a community, and a nation we need to move forward but not allow our imperfections to impede our steps. There are no simple right and wrongs in the protests that are happening across the country now for nearly a week. Some people are expressing their frustrations and some people take advantage of it to loot stores, but that does not make the riots right or wrong. Life is not so simple.

As we move forward, let us remember President Scogin’s acknowledgment of his imperfections and be comfortable acknowledging our own. Let us assume the best about one another even when we disagree and pray for understanding of the different paths we all walk. This does not just apply to weighty issues such as racism, but how we treat one another in all aspects of our work.

If you are interested, yesterday I shared my anger and frustration on my grief blog. This is part of my journey, a journey in which I will not be perfect and in which I will fail. Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday and I recognize that sometimes I, like all humans, push the Holy Spirit away and sometimes am filled with the Holy Spirit. I am thankful for when I can accept God’s love and seek forgiveness when my own pride gets in the way.