Leap Year Corrections

February 29, 2020

It’s Leap Year, a quadrennial reminder that even the best of our reckoning falls short of reality. We try to be as precise as possible, but whether it’s engineering, politics, natural or social sciences, we never quite get it right. I suppose mathematics is as close to perfection as we can get; two plus two always equals four, although I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that in Common Core it can equal five and still be considered correct. 

The Christian term that describes this imperfection of life is Original Sin. Contrary to some people’s understanding, Original Sin doesn’t mean everything is as bad as it could be. Instead, it simply states that everything in life falls short. Even the best of our efforts doesn’t quite measure up. Romans 3:23 tells us that “all...fall short of the glory of God.” Our human dilemma is that we are held to that standard of perfection to which we cannot attain. Thus the need for the redemption we find in Christ.

Today I was reminded of our imperfection in a most dramatic way. My son was driving into town when he pulled into a gas station. He had felt a wobble in the suspension, got out, checked everything over, couldn’t find anything wrong. Getting back into his vehicle, he started forward. The car lurched to a stop. He backed up a bit without any problem, but when he started forward, again the car came to a sudden stop. Someone pumping their gas tapped on his window. “You have a problem with your driver’s side rear wheel,” the man said. Matt got out and looked. The trailing arm had snapped, leaving the wheel dangling at an odd angle. 

He has only had the car for a few weeks. It passed inspection in Pennsylvania where he bought it, and again in New York when he registered it here. Two inspections by licensed mechanics had failed to notice what could have caused a serious accident. He had been driving at highway speeds just prior to pulling into the gas station, but it didn’t fail till he was stopped. The best intentions and efforts came up short, but grace kept it from being a potentially fatal flaw. 

I am grateful that it broke where it did. Why Matt was spared when others are not, I cannot explain. We live in a fallen world infected by Original Sin. We are in constant need of grace, physically, socially, emotionally, politically, and spiritually. Today, we were recipients of it, and are thankful.