I
love to read the author John Feinstein. His latest book-ONE ON ONE- is another
excellent one. He closes it by telling a very emotional story of a tragedy
involving one of his friends.
The
story concludes with his friend encouraging himself with the classic poetic quote that
hangs above the door of the Army football locker room at West Point, “I lay me
down for to bleed a while but I will rise to fight with you again.”
Next
comes Feinstein's last paragraph. He writes of how he was so emotional hearing
this from his friend, he wept.
Seeking
a satisfying climax, Feinstein, in his last sentence, describes how lucky he
has been “to have known the people I have known over the plast twenty-five years.”
That
is not a typo; the last sentence contains the word “plast” instead of “past.”
Having
written an entire book, with deep emotions and tears, having written tens of
thousands of words, Feinstein, three words from the finish line, types a typo!
I
was amazed and stunned. Perhaps, in his original manuscript, Feinstein had
typed the correct word–“past.” Perhaps, along the way, someone in the
publishing company pushed wrong key on his computer.
Still,
everybody missed it. And ultimately, Feinstein's name is on the product.
Can
you imagine how he felt when he discovered the mistake? I’m sure he was distressed that all of his work geared toward a stirring finish was wasted
because of the distraction of that last sentence.
In
a strange way, I find comfort in this mistake. I hold Feinstein in the highest
regard; this mistake does not change my feelings for him.
If
someone of his quality can make a mistake, I do not have to beat myself up for
mine. The Lord knows I make plenty of them, beginning with MY TYPOS in my blogs
(including this blog!)
More
importantly, I’m glad that my Lord not only forgives me for my mistakes—he forgets
them.
The
writer of Hebrews, quoting Jer. 31:34, writes of God saying, “Their sins and
lawless acts I will remember no more.”
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