As a young man, former President Jimmy Carter graduated from the Naval Academy and served as an officer on a nuclear-powered submarine. However, before he was able to assume that position, he had to have a personal interview with Admiral Hyman Rickover, the man who is said to be the father of the nuclear navy.
Carter was understandable nervous, knowing how much was at stake and that only the best, most disciplined officers were chosen to serve in this prestigious force. As he stood before Rickover, it was soon obvious to Carter that the wise admiral knew more about nearly every subject discussed than he did.
Finally, Rickover came to the last question on his list, “Where did you finish in your class, young man?” Pleased with his accomplishments and thrilled to be asked a question he could easily answer, Carter informed the Admiral that he had finished 59th out of a student body numbering 820. Then he waited for a commendation from the old sailor, but it never came.
Jimmy Carter later recounted that the question that broke the uncomfortable silence between the two men was, “Did you always do your best?” Carter thought a moment and then cleared his throat and hesitantly replied, “No sir, I did not.” At that point, Rickover turned he chair around, signaling the interview was over, and asked, “Why not?”
This is a good question to ask ourselves as we reflect on our activities during the past year. How would we evaluate what we have done during past year? Would we regretfully say poorly, so-so, or just adequate? Or would we dare to say good, exceptionally good, or outstanding?
Being Christian, we profess that we are committed to excellence. But then we hear Jesus telling us that “excellence” is measured by our relationship to God and others. “’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Mt. 22:37-39 NLT). And then in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expands neighbor to include our enemies and concludes with this measure of excellence, “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Mt. 5:43-48 NLT).
Wow! That raises the bar immensely, and begs the question, “Did we always do our best?” We cannot hide from that question, for God says, “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.” (Rev. 3:8, NLT). I may be stretching the context of this promise but wish to suggest the open door is that possibility of forgiveness and opportunity to begin again in behaving better.
The beginning of each new year offers us a time to reflect on our past, regret our mistakes and failures, contemplate the future, and make resolutions. I think most people want to do and be better. But there is usually something about the past that troubles us, even if it is nothing more than the nagging belief that we could do better if we had another go at it.
Many years ago, Louisa Fletcher Tarkington, wrote a perceptive poem entitled, “The Land of Beginning Again.” It begins and ends with a verse which is almost a universal wish.
- I wish there were some wonderful place
- Called the land of beginning again
- Where all our mistakes,
- And all our heartaches,
- And all of our poor selfish grief,
- Could be dropped like a shabby
- Old coat at the door,
- And never be put on again.
Mistakes and regrets of the past can and often do become heavy baggage for many of us. This baggage is real and cannot be easily waved aside, for it represents the residue of mistaken judgments and unwise decisions that have left scars and, sometimes, openly deep wounds in our relationships with God and others. Have we always done our best? Probably not. Have any of our conversations and actions caused unnecessary pain. Probably so. Do regrets weigh us down? Most likely.
The Bible is filled with the idea of forgiveness and beginning life over again. The possibility of new beginnings is God’s good news to us. Whatever loose ends may be lying out there in the past, God can help us gather them up into new beginnings. God assures us that forgiveness is for the asking. “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:9 NLT).
The psalmist prayed, “O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.” (Psalm 86:5 NLT). Instead of fretting, let us find forgiveness and move forward through God’s open door of “Beginning Again” toward excellence.
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 6, 2021
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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