The Zeros

This morning I am thinking about the “zeros” in my life.  I’m speaking of the boneheaded decisions, the colossal screw-ups, and the epic fails that ultimately resulted in nothing fruitful.  To use a math analogy, I have come to see that these zeros are much like empty placeholders in my memory and experience.  In math, it matters greatly where one chooses to place zeros in a number.  Likewise, it matters greatly where I choose to position life’s zeros in my heart, mind, and soul as I move forward into my destiny.  First, it is absolutely critical that I perceive myself as a whole number, rather than a decimal.  When I take on a decimal perspective, I continually think of myself as less than what I am meant to be (weak, incomplete and unfulfilled, broken).  If I am decimal-minded, I tend to keep my zeros ever before me.  I will rehearse and rehash them.  And, the more zeros I place before me, the more I decrease.   Conversely, when I understand and accept myself as whole (strong, forgiven and forgiving, healed, capable), I am wise to put all my zeros behind me.  That is, I am able to acknowledge that they happened, but they no longer drive or dictate my thoughts and behavior.  And, just like in math, the more zeros I put behind me, the more I continue grow. 

Side note:  Whenever God blesses my life with the gift of other people, I now know that we can take our collective zeros and place them, not in front or between, but behind us.  In doing so, we can grow together!