From The Deacon's Bench

We learn from our mistakes; I grew up hearing this saying.  I realize that I never gave it much thought, and pretty much accepted it as a sensible way to approach things. However, there are days, in fact many more lately, that I think... "If we really learn from our mistakes, why the heck are repeating them over and over?"  I'm not just referring to us as individuals, but also to humankind in general.  As one looks at the history of humankind, we see the same destructive behaviors play out in various places throughout the world over and over again. Just when we think, "It can't get much worse" it does...because the destructive behaviors get more heinous, and the response gets worse because there is less of an outrage and more acceptance. It's almost like, if we don't talk about it, it doesn't exist.  Kind of alike a child hiding their eyes at the scarry parts of a movie. It also brings to mind another "old saying"...Don't rock t

This seemingly simple three lettered word is actually the root of the many complex issues that we all face.  For those of us who have raised children, we soon learn that why can be the question simply because a child wants to know how something works or... it can be the question because the child does not want to do something they are being told to do.  In my experience growing up, when I asked why for that second reason, the answer would generally be "because I said so!" As I matured, asking why became the motivation for me to explore and seek answers.  I wish I could say that I have always been successful in my quest but just because I did not "find" an answer doesn't mean that I would never revisit it. Throughout Holy Scripture, we find so many examples of individuals seeking answers, and turning to God to help them in their quest.  My own experience has often taken me to a place where I too have sought help from God.  Through that, I have learned that God pr