We often read of sportspersons, especially in the sport of tennis, where the stats at the end of the match might say, he/she made ‘x’ number of “unforced errors”. Unforced errors are made without any help from anyone else. We just make errors for some reason – a miscalculation, poor judgement, not realising something, we’re tired, that sort of thing. These are different to “forced errors” which are due to an opponent’s good play. These forced errors, or the outmanoeuvring of an opponent, make the tactics of sport so interesting – and that’s not about cheating, of course.
So unforced errors, for Christians, might be described as choosing a sinful option that always brings damage upon one’s soul and often their body, as well. Every day, to a lesser or greater extent, we make unforced errors when we sin; and every time we do that we allow Satan to inflict sin’s consequences upon us. This is why, of course, confession of our sins to God and His forgiveness are essential to our well-being. It cleanses us from all unrighteousness – which is all the effects of sin.
1 John 1:9 (NIV) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Part of our discipleship journey is learning to avoid unforced errors so that we become more and more whole, and holy. But the world in which we live abounds with all kinds of pressures and dynamics that can draw us into making “forced errors”.
I was reading recently in an old National Geographic magazine, and have more recently heard from other news sources, that elephants in Africa and India have been put under so much habitat pressure that they have become stressed to the point of rage, and are now pushing back. Dozens of incidents have been recorded each in Kenya, India, and in Namibia’s national parks over the last few years of elephants suddenly violently attacking humans. These normally docile creatures, the planet’s largest vegetarians, have no natural predators. But the pressure put on them as their environment has been shrinking through massive deforestation and other habitat stolen by ever-encroaching human activity, and the killing of their numbers by poachers over a long period, has seen a rash of increasingly violent reactions by elephants. They’re highly stressed and are actually targeting humans and destroying their property. They’re even attacking other animals without provocation. This has never happened before, but is now frequent. Zoologists, initially, could not understand the aberrant behaviour, it appeared to be so irrational and uncharacteristic of an intelligent species. But the research is in, elephants are highly stressed, traumatised and very angry. They’re not coping and are lashing out.
In addition to this, I caught an article in a news piece somewhere last month concerning orcas (Killer Whales) deliberately attacking small fishing boats. The sheer number of these incidents has convinced scientists that this too is an anger reaction by animals against human encroachment to such a degree that they are now stressed and making “forced errors”, so to speak. Usually, orcas have interacted with humans playfully and haven’t attacked them – until now. The research has shown that in many cases adult orcas are actually teaching their calves to attack small boats according to American Scientist. In May a trio of orcas attacked a boat in the Strait of Gibraltar damaging it so badly that it quickly sank. Since May 2020, 505 cases have been reported in the Strait of Gibraltar alone. Alfredo López, an orca researcher at the Atlantic Orca Working Group (GTOA), which monitors the Iberian killer whale population said, “All this has to make us reflect on the fact that human activities … are at the origin of this behaviour.”
There are other examples of such emerging angry behaviours and reactions in animals, too. (Orangutangs in Indonesian rainforests etc.). It is so sad to hear of this. But, closer to home, we’re seeing a similar kind of thing happening in Australia – and I’m just observing “forced error” behaviours that we have not seen with such frequency and intensity ever before. I recently witnessed a road rage incident where two older women were out of their cars after some small incursion by one to the other (which was clearly accidental and did no damage) and were going at each other out loud and at full volume. These were not young whipper snappers mouthing off. These were two apparently genteel women publicly yelling and screaming at each other. Someone’s “space” had been invaded. I saw one of them later (I think she remembered I had seen the incident) and asked how she was. She dissolved into tears and through her sobs she said, “I don’t know what came over me, I am never like that. Everyone who knows me knows that I’m not an angry person, at all!” She was so appalled and upset with herself. A forced error? Maybe … There’s anger everywhere.
Road rage incident stats have dramatically increased in the last five years. According to Compare the Market newsletter (“The Burrow”), 12.7 million adults (not including kids!) have witnessed a road rage incident in Australia. That is a staggering figure. 62% of Australia’s adult population have been subjected to anger, violence, fury and insults on our roads. It’s not as if our actual habitat is being destroyed, as such, but in many ways our living “spaces” – or our personal living margins – have shrunk. Our personal privacy is disappearing in a tsunami of social media forms; the overreach of government into our private lives is rampant; our individual identity is being eroded; public discussion forums are filled with divisive vitriol and cancel culture tactics; many of our basic freedoms are being encroached upon, we’re being controlled and corralled with more and more legislation, and we are feeling such day-to-day living pressure and helplessness that we’re angrier than we have ever been. It’s not just the animals who are stressed and angry and pushing back.
And flowing from all that angst is an ever-growing stream of frustration, stress and anger. Each day more encroachment is fuel for that fire. All kinds of “forced errors” are being made by people who would never otherwise contemplate such behaviour or choices. In some of these scenarios irreparable damage is being done to souls and relationships – our nation. What do the people of God do in such a world of shrinking living space and the relentless attacks on personal freedoms? How do we live in all of this and still stay sane and balanced – a city on a hill shining the hope of God into the darkness? It isn’t easy, I know. But the apostle Paul demonstrated with his life how to not just survive but thrive in such circumstances. He was sitting, chained, in an underground prison cell when he wrote this …
Philippians 4:11 “… for I have learned to be content whatsoever the circumstances.”
For I have learned … And there it is, dear friends. Paul had learned to be content in the worst of circumstances. His personal and psychological space had been forcibly reduced on several levels, yet here he is in celebration and worship of our awesome God – no anger at all. Instead, joy! The circumstances were not removed, his space remained encroached upon, diminished and cruel … but he had learned a joyous contentment. He had been initiated (by Holy Spirit) into the deep mysteries of the love and grace and wisdom of God as he had walked with Him, such that he’d learned to live in God’s reality. It profoundly changed him. This is the reality that transcends our present reality with all its pressures to succumb. Paul was in living in God’s reality despite the powerlessness of his circumstances and instead of anger and frustration he knew joy and peace. This is where God is glorified in how we live … and where we are a city on a hill. Keep walking with God, lean into Him, pursue intimacy with Him … learn from Him, let Holy Spirit initiate you into His reality … and overcome with joy.
Romans 8:19 (NRSV) “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; …”
Ps Milton
Sources: National Geographic Magazine (June, 2015); Scientific American (May, 2023, Newsletter); Compare the Market newsletter “The Burrow” (February 2023).