Favorite Murphy's Law

I had a good whinge yesterday. I know it will shock you, gentle reader (Christian leader and trainee minister that I am) that I failed to trust and praise the Lord constantly... but alas, whinge I did.

On the plus side, I whinged to a wise mentor, who shared a version of Murphy's Law I had never heard (or remembered) before:

"Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by incompetence"

I found this strangely comforting.

What are YOUR favorite sayings... and why? I'd love to hear from you!

Comments

AbiSomeone said…
Janet, just LOVE that!

The Abbess will have to be posting something about that...when she gets back to blogging (read: after recovering from the surge to get the kids back in school from summer)!

My favorite quote, from about 10 years ago (a guy was ragging about the TBN folks--ON TBN, no less!) as best I can remember, goes something like this:

"Don't confuse the apparent blessing of God on your ministry as his stamp of approval on your methods."
6 September 2008 at 01:39
Janet Woodlock said…
So, so true... God is so gracious to use our fumbling inadequacies!!!!

And there's a sense in which this links our two favourite quotes... because it's good to be reminded just how much grace God pours out when tempted to get upon our own (outraged!) high horse in relation to others.

Thanks for popping by Peggy!
6 September 2008 at 12:47
Janet Woodlock said…
I've just been thinking (during a walk with the kids and dogs in the glorious Spring sunshine) that this comment is particularly relevant for someone with a heart for women's ministry and leadership in the Body of Christ (as I do). I've occasionally struck women who seem quite embittered about patriachal leadership structures (etc.)... but if it's merely incompetence (rather than malice) it all needs to be viewed with grace-tinged specatacles.

Well, I think so anyway. She who is without sin cast the first stone...
6 September 2008 at 14:27
Anonymous said…
"Man is an exception, whatever else he is.If it is not true that a divine creature fell, then we can only say that one of the animals went completely off its head." GK Chesterton

I know its not exactly relevant, but one of my fav quotes all the same.
30 November 2008 at 22:49
Janet Woodlock said…
I LOVE that Chesterton quote, and I hadn't heard it before. Thanks for sharing it!
1 December 2008 at 12:33
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