My son Mark sent me this exchange with a stair-racing friend of his about whether or not a particular race organizer would change the date of a race:

Friend: You don’t think it would be a bad look to change plans like that?

Mark: The right decision is the right decision. But that’s a broader discussion than just stair climbing events. I think a lot of people in this country treat someone worse for changing their mind than for sticking with a bad call. Sometimes you get new info. Sometimes the situation changes. Sometimes you just messed up and woke up in the morning and realized you were on the wrong road.

The right decision is always the right decision. The wrong decision is wrong but it’s even more wrong when you don’t pivot. Making the right decision should always be rewarded, whether it is on day one or day 99 – especially if you learn something and do better next time.

Friend: I wasn’t expecting a full-on wisdom bomb here. This is good feedback. I appreciate this response.

I don’t think I’ve heard the phrase “wisdom bomb” before, but Mark is not afraid to launch one in the middle of an ordinary conversation.

The Apostle Paul was accused of weakness by the Corinthians because he changed his mind about a visit. He spends 17 verses of 2 Corinthians explaining (2 Corinthians 1.12 – 2.4). Here’s his bottom line:

But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. (2 Corinthians 1.23 – 2.1, ESV)

The right decision is always the right decision. Jesus makes the same point:

What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” And he answered, “I will not,” but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, “I go, sir,” but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” (Matthew 21.28 – 32, ESV)