It’s a natural tendency to want to blame others or outside circumstances for our problems. Even our media, politics, and public discourse have been hijacked by the sin of externalization—in some cases even amplifying it. Watch your tendency to blame externally, whether it’s someone else, another department, another company, the weather, or my favorite, our government. Of course, you may have good reason to place blame, but when you do, ask if your handprint is on the crime scene anywhere. Penance for the sin of externalization is to reflect on any ownership you have in the situation. Chances are your fingerprints are on the crime scene somewhere.
