[This reflection by Martin Shorey was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 07/Jun/2026]
Some of you may have seen a recent video from the United States in which a police officer pulls over a female driver whom he suspects of driving without due care and attention. He asks her to wind down her window and tells her that he saw her holding a mobile phone in her right hand.
There was just one problem. The woman didn’t have a right hand.
She clearly demonstrated this by waving the stump of her right arm. Yet despite the obvious evidence, the officer seemed unwilling to back down or admit that he might have been mistaken.
Watching the video made me wonder how I would have responded in the same situation. More importantly, how do I react when I discover that I am wrong?
Most of us like to think of ourselves as reasonable people who are willing to change our minds when presented with new evidence. Yet pride has a way of digging in its heels. Admitting that we were mistaken can feel uncomfortable, embarrassing, and sometimes even threatening.
The Bible has much to say about this. James reminds us that “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble” (James 4 v6). Humility is not thinking less of ourselves; it is being honest enough to acknowledge when we have got things wrong.
Similarly, Proverbs tells us, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice” (Proverbs 12 v15). Wisdom is not found in always being right. Wisdom is found in being teachable.
Perhaps that’s a challenge for all of us. When someone corrects us, points out a mistake, or challenges something we believe, will we become defensive and double down? Or will we have the humility to listen, learn, and grow?
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Last Sunday’s reflection: Hope by David Makanjuola
Contributed by Martin Shorey; © Martin Shorey