Lent with Lazarus ~ Lesson of Regret

 

As we continue to stick and stay with the story of Lazarus and why it was that Jesus didn’t leave quickly to see “the one whom he loved,” we can talk a bit about regrets.  This is not necessarily a topic we like to discuss.  Recently I read a fascinating book by Daniel Pink where he describes four core regrets.  First, foundational regrets around education, finance, and health.  Times we have overspent and under saved.  When we didn’t live up to our hopes.  Second, there are moral regrets where we took the low road, did something we are not proud of, or compromised on our values.  Third are connections regrets when we failed to honor the people who matter.  Or we lose touch with friends or family.  These are relationships that have frayed or fizzled or faded and we long to rekindle.  Finally, there are boldness regrets that we didn’t dare to dive into an opportunity when the door was opened to us. 

 

Which of the above four do you find as part of your story?

 

For me, it is all the above.  Pink points out in his book that we have an obsession as a culture to live with no regrets.  But we all have moments we wished we had traveled a different path when we came to a fork in the road of life.  Paying attention to our regrets can be helpful and healing.  There are lessons to be learned when we listen and lean in to our regrets, if we are willing to be a student.  For example, I had regrets around how much time and energy I was sharing with my family, the people who I love more than anything in this world.  I could stew about lost time and missing out.  Or I could show up to family dinners with energy and my full self. 

 

Pink even suggests that you do a failure resume.  This is where you list those places and people, opportunities, and choices that you wish you had a mulligan or rewind button in life.  Perhaps you are thinking, “Um, thanks, but no thanks.”  But maybe today you will sit with the holy lesson that not all our decisions were amazing.  We make mistakes.  And God’s love doesn’t depend on being perfect, rather it is with God’s love embracing and enfolding our entire life that we find a perfect love that makes us whole.  May this truth help you be open and honest during this season of Lent.  Amen.