I become engrossed in my work behind the scenes. I’d been hard at it from 5 am and was still in my pajamas. The bell rang at 08:30 and I heard Frikkie calling: “Gert, let’s go!”

I went ice-cold as it hit me: I had completely forgotten about our appointment at the school in town. Not five minutes later I was in the car. Showered, teeth brushed, clean clothes and all. I suspect some places on my body did not feel any water, but we were on our way.

Worst of all is that Frik had reminded me of the appointment the previous day.

I felt pretty stupid!

A week or so ago the leader of our men’s group let us know that we would be meeting early the next morning. I responded that I would be there.

The next morning, I was again caught up in my work since early morning. Again, I was still in my pajamas when my cellphone pinged: “Where are you? We’re waiting for you!”

Yes, I forgot again and again I was feeling rather stupid.

That’s my flaw. I forget things. My Alzheimer’s light is not so light anymore.

But it seems I’m in good company. Paul also had a flaw. ¹³Bring the winter coat I left in Troas with Carpus; also the books and parchment notebooks.

We all have some niggles, a little mistake here, forgetting something there. That’s why we need to allow one another to slip and slide now and then. We shouldn’t point fingers, because usually four fingers point back at you. The world will be a much better place if we allow one another to make mistakes.

But the biggest lesson that I’m learning from Paul here is that Paul didn’t allow the few faults that he had – certainly more than just forgetting a coat and a few books – to come between him and living his calling. Despite his slipping and sliding, he still lived his calling to the utmost.

I had to make peace with a few of my own faults. Sometimes I can be so hard on myself. Oh, I’ve said some hard things to myself about what I thought about myself. Until I realised that I was taking a shot at my self-image. I was so hard on myself when I slipped up that I started doubting that God could even use such a fool as me.

I had to make peace with the fact that I will slip up. And I’m not saying that you should leave it at that. To address the forgetting of appointments, for example, I started using an aggressive electronic diary, but if one slips through, that’s OK too.

The bottom line is that God wants to use us. He is good with hitting straight shots with crooked sticks. So, build a bridge over your mistakes. Know that God can and will use you, even if you have a flaw here and there.

What I have learnt in life is that flawed people can hear other flawed people better. Where we slip and slide together, we will help one another get back up, we grow stronger, and in the next round we may just save a life…

Scripture
2 Tim 4:9-13

Reflection
What do your flaws look like?
Where do you slip and slide?
Where does God want to use you?

Prayer
Lord, I can hardly believe that You want to use me. I can hardly believe that with all my faults I am good enough to be used by You. I hesitate to say that I will work for You, but I am prepared to be Your rep here on earth. Please give me the strength to do it. Amen.