People Are Just That… People.

I am home sick today and thought I would take some time to reflect on the past couple of weeks and months. While 2011 has been a great year in some aspects, there have also been some great learning lessons this year. And as we all know, “learning lessons” is simply code for “hard times!” In my life nothing great has been learned without a having to cross a mountain or two in the process.

Well, the last few weeks have brought about great lessons in the area of “people.” Yes, I said that right… people. Because I am passionate about two things – teaching and leadership – I spend a great deal of time reading, observing and interacting with people. This does not come always come easy for me. While I am an extrovert by nature, I love my alone times away from the business of the world and all of the… people. Yet, in order to teach and lead one must grow to understand people. And so I am constantly, slowly and, at times, painfully learning.

My greatest lesson of the past few weeks? It is a secret, but I will share it with you: People will fail you.

That’s right! You heard me correctly and you heard it here first! People will let you down, people will fail you and people will disappoint you. This is our secret and I hope you will not share it with anyone!

But in the interest of full disclosure, here is the flip side to this secret… That is what people are supposed to do!

From the dawn of time (think Adam and Eve) to the very present, it is certain that human nature will fail. It is inevitable.

But if I may add one addendum on to this secret: You and I will (and do) fail people too. Before we get to haughty and prideful and rush to judge others, we should accept this as well. Because you and I are humans just like all the “others,” we will fail others too.

I read somewhere recently (I cannot remember where) that it should never surprise us when people fail us or fail in general. Failing is what human nature is best at; failing is what human nature will succeed at 100% of the time. Yet, it still shocks us when we hear of a pastor who fails, a politician caught with his pants down, a teacher who acts in a way he/she should not or when a friend fails us. However, as the author of this statement beautifully states, it should more surprise us when human nature achieves something great, when human nature succeeds instead of fails or when human nature overcomes itself to accomplish a worthy goal!

By this, I do not mean we should have a defeatist outlook on people or relationships. I am simply learning that when I accept that people will fail, it surprises me less when they do. I am able to look at a situation with greater empathy and understanding and offer the same grace and patience I hope is offered to me when I fail others.

After all, we people are just that… people.