Definitions 1

AVERAGE: Those who make common mistakes.

GIFTED: Those who make uncommon mistakes.

STUPID: Those who continue to make the same mistakes, again and again.

INTELLIGENT: Those who stop making some mistakes and move on to others.

IGNORANT: Those who have not made enough mistakes to anticipate future ones.

INFORMED: Those who have made enough mistakes that they ought to know better already.

FOOLISH: Those who think their past mistakes cannot happen again.

WISE: Those who can anticipate and, theoretically, avoid some future mistakes based on past ones.

HYPOCRITICAL: Those who pretend they never make mistakes.

HONEST: Those who admit they make mistakes.

ARROGANT: Those who delight in pointing out other people's mistakes.

COMPASSIONATE: Those who help other people work through their mistakes.

HATEFUL: Those who cannot move past other people's mistakes.

MERCIFUL: Those who forgive other people's mistakes.

INSECURE: Those who are afraid to make mistakes.

COURAGEOUS: Those who risk enormous mistakes, out of necessity.

RECKLESS: Those who risk enormous mistakes, for no good reason.

DELIBERATE: Those who choose the mistakes that cause least harm.

DESPONDENT: Those who cannot move past the mistakes they have made.

REPENTANT: Those who seek, and accept, forgiveness for their mistakes.

RUTHLESS: Those who are unaffected by their own mistakes.

VICIOUS: Those who enjoy their own mistakes.

SELF-RIGHTEOUS: Those who are always handy with a rationale or justification for their mistakes.

EMPATHETIC: Those who try to understand the mistakes others make.

SADISTIC: Those who enjoy the mistakes others make.

ACCOUNTABLE: Those who take responsibility for the mistakes of others in their family or organization.

MISTAKEN: Any worldview that does not see mistakes, and worse than mistakes, as the fundamental constant in human nature.

RIGHTEOUS: The one man who made no mistakes; and who became accountable for the mistakes of all people - i.e., Jesus of Nazareth.

JUSTIFIED: Those whose mistakes God disregards, reckoning them to be righteous since Jesus was held accountable for their mistakes - and worse than mistakes.

PARADOXICAL: The nature of faith -- which is, simultaneously, 1) a gift that God gives us and renews to us through Baptism, Gospel, and Sacrament; 2) our personally trusting in the righteousness of Jesus to make us righteous before God; 3) the basis on which God reckons us righteous, instantly and completely, without any reference to our works; and 4) something that can be small or great, weak or strong, and that, if properly nurtured, can and should grow and bear fruit in holy lives and deeds.