Reasons(?) and Excuses

  Do we seek to avoid blame? Do we seek to point the finger at someone else if, or when, blame is directed toward us? Yes - to both questions. We are a self-preservation creation and when the fault really isn't ours, then we are proactive into casting the blame as far away from ourselves as possible. Understandable.? Even though there are many times 'fault' has nothing to do with anything, I suspect none of us likes to be associated with whatever interfered with attaining the 'goal'. However, it really is how WE respond to and in these times that marks who we are. Julian Fellowes wrote: 

     "We live in this great excuse generation, where nothing's ever your
      own fault and everything's always because someone was terrible to 
      you. I think that our lives are the result of our own choices..." 

  This view that life is the result of our own choices, demands a responsibility on our part rather than the attempt to shift blame. Unfortunately, we can too easily get sucked into the blame game rather than into resolution. (Human) blame may not have anything to do with anything. And if there is a need for change then our focus should be on resolution of the (fill in the blank). Sadly, resolution typically comes after the blame has been ascribed. 

  Sometimes though, our reasons sound like excuses... even to our own ears. Perhaps what we need do is to consider why we are explaining. Has explanation been requested or are we really trying to justify our actions (or lack of actions). If we start listening to our own words, we might have a better understanding of how they are received. Excuses rarely accomplish what they are designed to do, reasons sometimes fall into that category too. 

  I believe that for Christians, there is a higher standard that we are to follow and exhibit. We should be the standard bearers in accepting our responsibility for both the good and bad that happens as a result of who we are and what we do. How we handle our mistakes makes a huge impression on those watching us. Actually the point should be what are we focusing on... excuses or resolution?