A Faux Pas Is A Mistake In A Tuxedo

Everyone who is anybody has a hobby or at least entertains the idea. Hobbies range from sports to crafts to reading and even traveling. Some hobbies don't make sense to me like collecting dead insects.

My long established hobby has earned me a membership in the POP (People Observing People) Culture. The rules specify that each member must swear not to divulge anything observed.

Being a minister, I'm not allowed to swear, so I am exempted from this rule.

I love to get a nice hot cup of coffee, a local newspaper and situate myself where I can see the most people in their natural environment. Nothing is more hilarious than observing people who don't realize they are being watched.

Don't get me wrong here, I love people. All sorts of people. I would never unduly make fun of anyone - well almost anyone. Everybody has something about him or her interesting and worth observing.

One of my favorite authors, F. W. Boreham, made this observation: Leave your house early in the morning and the first person you meet take him or her aside and write their biography. Of course, the person will not conceive anything interesting about his or her life, and that's the way most people are. We think everybody else is more interesting than our life.

The average person, in my opinion, leads a more interesting life than almost all celebrities, except for Elvis who is more popular dead than alive.

As an expert in the POP Culture, the most interesting thing about people can be summed up in one word: mistakes.

Mistakes are the common characteristics of all those addicted to oxygen. Other similarities exist among people, but this one thing supercedes culture, time, age and gender. Everybody at some time to some degree makes mistakes.

Two kinds of people populate our planet: those who admit their mistakes and those who don't.

Now, a mistake is not just a mistake. There are categories and degrees of mistakes. Let me list a few categories and see which one fits into your lifestyle.

The first category would be, inaccuracies. It is easy to get something wrong when dealing with numbers, especially dialing telephone numbers. Not long ago my wife, who works as my secretary, dialed a number for me. I can't remember now who we were trying to call, but I do remember who we really got.

My wife dialed the number and as soon as it started to ring, she handed the phone to me. When I put the receiver to my ear, I heard a sultry voice invite me to do things I had never considered before in my life.

Her words sent shockwaves down to the soles of my feet and back to the top of my head, only to repeat the procedure several times. I had heard of such things but I never heard it personally.

I immediately scowled at my wife and demanded, "What number did you dial?"

"I dialed the number you gave me," she said rather flippantly.

"Okay," I quipped, "listen to this."

I handed the telephone back to her and watched her eyes explode and her mouth drop open. She quickly gave it back to me, but I didn't want it either.

Inadvertently, she had dialed some phone sex number. We both went to the restroom to wash out our ears.

Another category, omission. This is where I get into a lot of trouble with my wife. It is not that I'm negligent but I do have the odd moment where certain bits of information are temporarily obscure from any immediate recall. Like when I go to the grocery store for my wife and get everything but what she sent me for in the first place.

How this happens befoggles my mind.

Misunderstanding represents another category. I really do not understand this one. I have been accused of misunderstanding some very simple instructions from You Know Who.

I sincerely miss my understanding but for now, I'll simply overlook it.

Blunder is still another category of mistakes. In this group, the mistake is rather innocent. It might be a result of some tiny oversight. After all, nobody can see and remember everything.

If there were awards for blunders, I would have a shelf full of trophies.

The list can go on and on. However, my experience as a card-carrying member of the POP Culture brings me to the conclusion that the quintessential mistake is the faux pas. If anyone knows about mistakes, it is the French. Just saying it gives one the feeling of something tremendously special.

A faux pas is simply a mistake in a tuxedo.

A faux pas can cover any and all mistakes. A simple procedure is associated with this. When you realize that you've just committed a faux pas, place three fingers from your right hand, never your left and never four fingers although two will work fine, across your mouth while extending your pinky. Then giggle and say, "Oh, pardon my faux pas." Then roll your eyes upward.

This is most useful when in heavy traffic and you've just cut in front of another driver. Your faux pas gesture will be immediately acknowledged by the driver in the car extending a solitary digit upwards. This is merely a friendly gesture recognizing your faux pas.

Of course, the superb response to every mistake is found in the Bible. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16 KJV.)

As someone once said, "confession is good for the soul." Do a little soul-work this week.

The Reverend James L. Snyder is an award winning author whose writings have appeared in more than eighty periodicals including GUIDEPOSTS. In Pursuit of God: The Life of A. W. Tozer, Snyder's first book, won the Reader's Choice Award in 1992 by Christianity Today. Snyder has authored 8 books altogether.

Rev. James L. Snyder has a knack for making fun of daily frustrations and will increase the humor aptitude of your readers so they too can discover that life is less stressful when you're laughing. Through these essays, your readers will realize that humor and religion belong together and can keep them from taking themselves and others too seriously.

---

For Old Times Sake

Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 19,... Read More

Future Prediction

Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 13,... Read More

Where Has All the ENCHANTMENT Gone? Long Time Passing

I thought you might enjoy reading a professional article I... Read More

Planning for the Unexpected

Unfortunately, most people fail to plan until it is too... Read More

Labor That Works Miracles

(excerpted from The Challenge to Succeed series)Two thousand years ago... Read More

Shame and Guilt: A World of Difference

Learning to distinguish between two powerful emotions - superficially very... Read More

Live After 40

"For man, as a specie, and unlike other inhabitants of... Read More

Death Wish

I tremble at the thought that millions of people suffer... Read More

Time for Sunshine

Having spring around makes you feel different after such a... Read More

Your World Your Way - Trusting Yourself In Business

"It doesn't interest me who you are, or how you... Read More

Be a Star in Your Own Life

Do you have the charactertics to be star in their... Read More

Walking The Walk

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 14,... Read More

If I Hurt You, Then Im Sorry

This statement has stopped many a war in my house.... Read More

Encouraging Blossoms of Achievement

The tiny dogwood sapling was only a twig when my... Read More

Life is Art

In my years teaching people to be successful, I have... Read More

Adversity to Victory

The following is a true story about a young friend... Read More

How to Get Over Emotional Misery

Whether it's a holiday, anniversary, birthday or a time in... Read More

Seven Things You Must Give to Others if You Want to Achieve Success!

A major part of the process of achieving success and... Read More

Keep on Keeping on!

Whenever we are working on our dreams we are going... Read More

Principles That Govern My Life

The strength and durability of a building is found in... Read More

Dont Die With Your Dreams Still Inside You

I write and talk a lot about dreams. Primarily because... Read More

Everyone Has Been Hurt... Part 4

Continued...After that I stayed with him still and when he... Read More

Those Who Sleep Get Sliced

Chang lived in Flushing, Queens. Every afternoon he rode the... Read More

Leaving The Child Behind. Recovery From Child Abuse

I looked at my father for the last time before... Read More

True Inner Guidance

It's easy to tell the difference between true inner guidance... Read More

A Teller Of Tales

Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 10,... Read More

Control Your Own Destiny

"You cannot control what happens to you, but you can... Read More

Vistas

The other day I found myself frustrated with the slow... Read More

Facing the Enemies Within

We are not born with courage, but neither are we... Read More

Life Lessons I Learned from My Cat

Even if you are not a cat person, bear with... Read More

Second Thoughts? Think Again!

Life is perfect. If you have read these articles long... Read More

Naomi and the 5 Life Lessons

Not long ago, I attended a seminar that featured Naomi... Read More

There Must Be A Way Out!

He was pushing a cart containing crates of soft drinks... Read More