Self-Defense

Have you ever noticed how we look for ways to justify what we do, even if it is wrong? Are you the type of person that often tries to make excuses for something that is your fault? Of course some excuses are better than others.

My wife is a schoolteacher, and in the course of her training in college, someone shared with her and her fellow classmates a list of some of the excuses that people have given to teachers through the years. Listen to some of these:

Dear scool: Pleas exkuse John for been absent on January 28, 30, 31, 32, and 35.

Crhis have an acre in his side.

Mary could not come to school because she was bother by very close veins.

John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.

John was absent yesterday because he had a stomach.

Please excuse Gloria. She was sick and under the doctor.

My son is under the doctor's care and should not take P.E. Please execute him.

Lillie was absent from school yesterday as she had had a gang over.

Please excuse Blach from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday she fell out of a tree and misplaced her hip.

Please excuse Joey Friday. He had loose vowels.

“Loose vowels” is a killer; watch out for that. Anyway, it is sometimes amusing the lengths to which we will go to justify ourselves. On the other hand, sometimes it is sad I have done things that have made me ashamed of myself, only to try to justify them through an excuse.

I have Jesus to be a good model for me when it comes to self-defense—he practiced none. In fact, when the charges against him were false, he typically did not concern himself. However, mistreat someone else, he defended him (see the temple.)

Maybe I need to learn the art of OTHERS-DEFENSE.