Last week I made a mistake in this column about the Rock Springs Camp Meeting coming up at Denver, NC. Fortunately, it got corrected quickly in most places where this blessed blurb appears. I said the big gospel music concert would be on Saturday the 4th of August. Well, as most of you sharp-eyed readers know, the 4th of August is on Monday—that’s when the concert happens. Of course, you can go on Saturday night and hear some good music too. Mostly what you get on Saturday night is a good sermon and a chance to repent of your sins and get right with God!

     Speaking of mistakes, Thomas Carlyle said, “The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none.” This is a tidbit of wisdom generally lost on we Americans. We don’t allow certain folk to admit error. Preachers, physicians, politicians, sports officials, for instance. On the other hand, we seem to have a soft spot in our hearts for “dumb crooks.” They can foul up in the most ridiculous ways and we chuckle it off easily and hold nothing against them—after they have spent a weekend in jail, of course.

     See how you react to this report. A highway patrolman pulled a large truck to the curb. He addressed the driver, “I’ve been following you several miles. You have been an exemplary driver. You have followed the laws and displayed courtesy as a driver. And you have earned a special award from the State Highway Department. Congratulations! What do you plan to do with the $5,000 award?”

     Pondering his good fortune a few seconds, the driver replied, “I believe I will finally get my driver’s license.”

     The fellow in the passenger’s seat blurted out, “Didn’t I tell you we’ll never get far in a stolen truck?”

     And from the trailer being pulled by the truck came a muffled voice: “Are we across the border yet?”

     I think we ought to lighten up a little bit. Take politicians, for example. I don’t think they would lie as much if they weren’t so afraid a mistake or two could get them beat in the next election. Preachers would do a lot better if it were only God looking over their shoulders and not some censorious deacon. I wish doctors didn’t have to worry that one mistake could cost them their career. Now, about sports officials…. When I was a young man, I supplemented the family income by working as a sports official. Once in a baseball game, my mind wandered and I called a batter out on two strikes. Quickly, I realized my mistake and reversed myself. On the next pitch, he hit a home run. That’s when I quit umpiring! Even I can’t forgive a mistaken umpire. However, I’d like to see us adopt a “Lord’s Prayer” approach. You remember our request that God “lead us not into temptation?” Let’s not lead each other into temptation to lying when we mess up.

     I’ve got myself so stirred up writing this piece, I’m changing the ending here. I was going to tell a tale about the tourist who stopped at a gas station in the Texas panhandle? He struck up a conversation with an old rancher and son. “Looks like it just might rain.”

     I was going to tell that story, but I won’t because it never happened. You would eventually have learned the truth and thought less of me. That’s the truth. I haven’t even exaggerated any this week. (Except about the truck driver.)

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