Fault Letters

Over the years, a few dear friends have requested what I term a "fault letter" -- in short, a summary of what I perceive to be their flaws.  While I consider this a great honor, it is almost certainly the most difficult writing project I have undertaken.  To begin with, the request has come from people with lives I respect (it takes character to want to know one's shortcomings, after all).  And it's always hard to view those I love with a critical attitude, even when invited.  But a true friend must hold his companions to The Standard and be willing to be held to it himself, otherwise the relationship will fall apart when a flaw that can't be ignored appears.  True love cannot be blind.

So, where to begin?  Not being in the habit of looking for the bad in people, I only tend to come up with a pathetic list of potential annoyances.  But I've come to realize that perhaps the easiest way to find weaknesses is in fact to find strengths, for our greatest strengths can become our greatest weaknesses.  Our Enemy attacks with greatest force the greatest threats to his rule.  As we have all observed, a strong leader can be too controlling, a compassionate soul can become a meddler, and so forth.  Is not all evil simply a perversion of good?

Let us all be wary of our own good points, humbly challenge others to evaluate us, and lovingly see our friends as the fallible humans they are.  This is true and profitable friendship.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Proverbs 27:5-6