There is a sound in ice hockey that makes the die-hard fan wince in pain, wishing that the gods of sport had shown an extra inch of favor. It is the telltale ping of a puck hitting the post of the goal.

Often times, the precision shot flies so fast that you can’t see it, but there is no mistaking that sound of a critical opportunity lost, missed by the slimmest of margins.

Are you a person who deals with regret?

Do you have a hard time letting things go?

I do.

I go to astronomical lengths to avoid mistakes. I’m the person who spends more money on paint samples than the actual paint because I’m so afraid of making the wrong choice.

In my former life as an actor, I dreamt of being interviewed by James Lipton for an episode of The Actor’s Studio. At the end of each exchange, this prim and precise inquisitor leans in close and asks a series of pithy questions:

What noise do you love?

What noise do you hate?

What turns you on?

What turns you off?

What is your favorite word?

What is your least favorite word?

My answers are as follows:

My grandmother’s screen door.

Nails on a chalk board.

Masterpiece Theatre.

High heat and high humidity.

Redemption.

And . . .

REGRET.

Without question, my least favorite word is regret. I live my life doing everything within my power to avoid it. And when I fail, I look for a lifeline to pull me out of it.

There is only one life line. His name is Jesus.

He takes regret and redeems it.

He takes the word I hate the most and turns it into the word I love.

He takes my mistakes and weaves them into the most beautiful story.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

Let God take that thing you regret and make something beautiful out of it.