Small Mistakes

Learning the conduct and commandments of Trinity Junior High

02/06/2019

Hebrews 12:4-7 Brothers and sisters: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children: My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges. Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as his sons. For what Ason" is there whom his father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.

St. Thomas Aquinas began one of his most insightful books called On Being and Essence (De ente et essentia), with this memorable line. He wrote: “Quia parvus error in principio magnus est in fine.” That means, as you all know, “a small mistake in the beginning becomes a big one in the end.” You have probably noticed this doing algebra equations. If you miss a simple addition or subtraction at the start, the final answer is all wrong. Some teens think getting a tattoo is a smart or sexy thing to do. But when they get old and their skin starts to sag, that pretty red rose may look more like a weeping willow.

Have you heard of what is happening to the governor of Virginia? I say this with great respect because we do not know all the details. Apparently, while he was in medical school, his yearbook page showed one man dressed up in the white pointy hood of a KKK klansman, and another man with a “blackface,” making him look African American. Perhaps at the time back in medical school the governor thought that was funny or cool, but today, people are deeply offended, and his own democratic colleagues are calling for his resignation. St. Thomas was spot on when he said a small mistake in the beginning becomes a big one in the end.

But I would suggest to you that not all small mistakes have to blossom into big ones. In fact, small mistakes can be opportunities of growth, goodness and even grace. We can learn from our mistakes and become bigger people thanks to them. The Letter to the Hebrews today teaches us to welcome correction, discipline, and even punishment so that small mistakes stay small. We read: “At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.” In other words, when we are disciplined for our mistakes, we can learn from them, grow from them, and ultimately we will be happier even because of them. With all due respect to St. Thomas, a small mistake in the beginning does not have to be a big one in the end.

Today, I want to talk about two mistakes teens frequently make today – some even here at Trinity – that could come back to haunt them later in life. Those two mistakes are vaping and inappropriate and offensive social media posts. These infractions may seem small and even like a joke to you today, but that’s what the Virginia governor thought back in medical school when he posted a blackface picture in his yearbook. Instead, we want to help you learn and even grow from these mistakes through discipline and correction, if you can take the punishment in the spirit of the Letter to the Hebrews.

First of all, our school policy is very clear about tobacco, alcohol, vaping and drugs. Let me read it to you: “The possession, use or distribution of tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaping paraphernalia, illegal drugs, or alcoholic beverages is not permitted in the school, on the school grounds, or at any school function.” If you have any of these items they will be confiscated and you will be punished. How will you be punished? The policy goes on to explain: “If any student brings to school or has in his/her possession any drug or alcohol during school hours or at any school functions, regardless of time or place, he/she is liable to expulsion. He/she will be suspended immediately and parents will be notified.” In other words, this is the discipline that Hebrews is talking about: it is painful in the short-term, but it produces peace and joy in the long-term. Small mistakes do not have to produce bigger mistakes; they can actually produce bigger people.

The second misbehavior is posts on social media that are both inappropriate and vulgar, and sometimes even translate into cyber-bullying or terroristic threatening. Again, the school policy on this could not be more clear. It states: “Students may not use social media sites to publish disparaging or harassing remarks about TJH community members, athletic or academic contest rivals, etc. Additionally, all on-line interactions must conform to the Student Code of Conduct.” Basically, the Student Code of Conduct is like Trinity’s own version of the Ten Commandments. But all of this conduct and these commandments can all be simplified to one statement: “do what Jesus would do.” Now, what will be the punishment for abusing social media? The punishment ranges from a reprimand all the way to expulsion, depending on the gravity or seriousness of the misbehavior.

Let me make two observations about how to think about social media, and clear-up a little confusion. First, we all cherish our own “right to privacy” in our own home. No one can tell me what I can do in my own house. True as that may be, the moment we share something on social media we step out of the privacy of our own home into the public square. What you say publically, especially on social media, reflects on you, your school, your family and your faith. No one enjoys the “right to privacy” when they are using social media.

Secondly, the First Amendment protects our freedom of speech; we have a right to our own opinions, and we have a right to express them. But that freedom is not absolute or limitless. Your freedom to swing your arm ends at my nose. When your fist hits my nose, you have exceeded and surpassed the rightful limits of your freedom. So, too, with social media: your freedom of speech to post something ends when it becomes offensive, vulgar or unbecoming a Trinity student; when it hits another person’s nose. And you will be punished when you do that, like the Letter to the Hebrews teaches.

Boys and girls, a small mistake in the beginning becomes a big one in the end. But not always. If you are disciplined, corrected and punished for that mistake, you have an opportunity to learn from it, to grow from it, and to be a bigger and happier person thanks to it. A small mistake in the beginning can be a big blessing.

Praised be Jesus Christ!