Walking Blamelessly

AM Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30 • PM Psalm 119:121-144
Mal. 1:1,6-14 • James 3:13-4:12 • Luke 17:11-19

In today’s passages from Morning Psalm 101, the phrase “walking blamelessly” recurs a couple different times. It’s compelling, a bit daunting, and difficult to wrap my head around. Yet it seems there are two ways for me to look at it. 

One, I could see “walking blamelessly” as walking without guilt or wrongdoing. In other words, living a life where I am so steadfast in my compassion and love that none of our actions warrant blame. I must confess this seems unattainable, but it is certainly a virtue to strive for. 

Perhaps it is more realistic to see “walking blamelessly” from the other side: walking without assigning blame. We know that we will inevitably mess up. Sometimes very badly, sometimes more casually. We will fail, sin, cheat, lie, and misunderstand—and so will everybody around us. Perhaps we can recognize that God is the model of walking blamelessly: She will not blame us for these shortcomings. That is not to say God does not care, or that She “lets us off the hook,” but more so that She understands and treats us with compassion whenever we make mistakes. 

I think sometimes we can truly be our own worst critics. We can be so hard on those around us, but even more so ourselves when we are alone in our minds. Perhaps we don’t admit it or we don’t let those closest to us see it—or maybe we don’t even realize it—but when the day is over and we lay in bed staring at the ceiling, I think we are prone to blaming ourselves harder than anyone else could. Perhaps this model of walking blamelessly is not meant as an unattainable virtue, but a gentle reminder. Next time we find ourselves looking through hurt and anger, let it be towards God. Perhaps then we can somehow be compassionate, whether it be to ourselves or to those around us.

Written by Michael Lynch

...that curly headed teenager in the choir.