I have a very long list of topics to cover, but I felt the need to jump this one up in the queue. The topic is Senator John Edwards’ sex scandal. Now, I understand the desire to want to hold public figures (preachers, lawmakers, entertainers, etc.) to a higher standard than everyone else. What I don’t understand is where being human ends and living to the highest standards possible begin.

I liked Senator Edwards before, and I still like him. What I understand is that obviously he had and still has some lessons that he needs to learn. Everyone around him has some lessons they need to learn. Now, everyone reacting to this situation has some lessons that we need to learn.

We don’t know what the lessons are for John Edwards, yet we quickly jump to judgment, condemnation, and write him off. We need to remember that we grow most by going through challenges, not by the lack of them. Breakdowns lead to breakthroughs. Perhaps we can learn to be compassionate observers.

There is at least one set of circumstances, no matter how convoluted they are, that will lead to you doing exactly what you think you’d never do.