We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to

keep their whole body in check” (James 3:2, NIV).

Legend has it that one day Albert Einstein wrote on the chalk board:

9 x 1 = 9, 9 x 2 = 18, 9 x 3 = 27…9 x 9 = 81, 9 x 10 = 91.

The students in the classroom began murmuring that Einstein had made a mistake. This was

Einstein! How could this genius get such a simple equation wrong? The correct answer 9 × 10 = 90,

not 91. All of Einstein’s students ridiculed him.

     So, Einstein waited for everyone to be silent, then presented a powerful lesson that no one                         soon would forget:

           Despite the fact that I analyzed nine problems correctly, no one congratulated me. But

           when I made one mistake, everyone started laughing. This means that even if a person is

           successful, society will notice his slightest mistake. And they’ll like that. So don’t let criticism                     destroy your dreams. The only person who never makes a mistake is someone who

           does nothing.

Many scientific advances were the result of accidents. Penicillin was discovered after Alexander Fleming left his petri dish in the open air. Two weeks later, he found that a mold had grown which deterred the advancement of influenza.

     Unfortunately, Einstein was correct in his assessment of society. We are a people who focus

on the mistakes others make. The irony as James, the brother of Jesus, points out is that we all

stumble. With a wink and a nod, James claims that none of us is perfect.

     However, our imperfections actually may be a strength in disguise. The Irish novelist,

James Joyce, once said, “Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” Making mistakes is part of the

learning process. Of course, it’s vital that we learn from our errors to keep us from repeating them.

When you lose (and you will) be sure you don’t lose the lesson. Make it your goal to be wiser

tomorrow than you are today.

     Whether you are a parent, a boss, or a neighbor, creating a culture that allows for others to

make mistakes is critical for children, employees, and those with whom we interact every day. So,

give yourself and the people around you a break. Grant everyone the same grace you long to

receive when you blow it.

     Take it from Einstein. Perfection isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.