Samson's story has always amazed me. Before he told Delilah the secret of his strength (Judges 16), he told his first wife the secret of his riddle (Judges 14). The guy just had a problem keeping his mouth closed. Both slip-ups led to the Philistines gaining an advantage, but the consequences connected to the second were obviously much more severe.
The kind of life-altering sin that shipwrecks our future doesn't happen out of nowhere. Monumental mistakes can usually be traced back to a pattern of small ones.
I wonder if Samson ever thought back over his journey as he entertained the Philistines without his eyes, a shell of the man he was destined to be? What might he have written in his moleskin?
Small mistakes uncorrected can become large mistakes.
I don't think successful living is perfect living. Success is simply gained by learning from our mistakes. If we're honest when we fall, and vigilant about making the necessary corrections, we can turn one-time mistakes into ongoing victories.
And I love the redemptive ending to Samson's story. He killed more Philistines by dying well then he did in the entirety of his life. Good reminder that it's never too late to be the man you could have been.
Great post; thanks for sharing. Though I wonder if I have permission to make it gender-applicative. If the aim is to be the man I could be, I think I've been failing miserably.
Posted by: Christy | July 07, 2007 at 12:03 AM