Remedial Lessons

Do you have an 'Achilles Heel'?  You know, that reference from ancient Greek literature that refers to a limitation, character flaw, or besetting sin that you just seem to keep repeating?  If we're all honest, isn't that part of being human?  Some of these issues, of course, have more far reaching and lasting consequences than others, but nonetheless, we all long to be 'set free' from them, don't we?

I want to share with you some lyrics to a song that was brought to my mind last night that speaks to this, and quite frankly, speaks to where I am living even today.  You see, my besetting sin, or character flaw, or whatever you want to call it, has been my inability to maintain consistent and lasting financial and emotional provision and stability for my wife and family.  I have repeated a pattern now, for nearly 3 decades, and I have to own it, confess it, repent again, seek forgiveness, seek counsel and help, receive God's grace and mercy, and keep going.  What else can I do? 

From a song by Greg Ferguson and his project from his 1999 project, Leave A Light On, here are the words and a link to the song, I Stand, I Fall.

I Stand, I Fall - by Greg Ferguson, 1999

I Stand, I fall, You take my hand

You give me grace to stand again

You teach, You test me, we try again

Until I understand

I try and I fail miserably

You pick me up so patiently

You walk me back where we began

I we begin again

 

The lessons are remedial

Your patience unbelievable

Stumbling into holiness

Is the only way I learn, I guess

 

I stand, I fall, You take my hand

You give me grace to stand again

You teach, You test me, we try again

Until I understand...until I understand.

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