Reasons or Excuses?

Best piece of advice/counsel I ever received came in a class in Seminary in 1979. Dr. Raymond T. Brock, our pastoral counseling Professor reflected on the fact that his syllabus did not contain an "attendance policy". SInce the school itself had such a policy the class at the onset was a bit puzzled. Dr. Brock explained, "There will be REASONS why you will miss my class. You may be ill and we would appreciate you not sharing. You may be away on a ministry assignment and late returning to the city. It may be a beautiful day and you decided to go fishing or your mother-in-law might be visiting and your wife wants you to accompany them to the outlet mall. There will be many REASONS why you will miss my class but none of them constitutes an excuse. You will still be held accountable for assignments due, notes given, exams missed."

In retrospect it is a great life lesson - no excuses, just reasons but still responsible. I have tried (often without success) to live by that rule. Even when there are good reasons for why I failed, I must assume my responsibility or at least my part of the responsibility(not everything is my fault, I just have to own my "stuff") for the failure and not only accept respnsibility but be RESPONSIBLE.