When I Know Just Enough to Get Myself in Trouble

So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord. 2 Samuel 1:10

With a sizable Hispanic population in our community, it’s not uncommon for me to encounter patients who speak only Spanish. I speak a little and so, I can usually make it through a sore throat visit on my own. Anything more complicated though, and I’m quickly in over my head. I know how to ask about a patient’s chest pain, but when I think they said that it only happens on Tuesdays in the rain, I must acknowledge that don’t understand. I wish I was fluent in Spanish, and I don’t like admitting my limitations, but if I fail to do so, I get myself in trouble.

It’s easy to admit my shortcomings in speaking Spanish, but it can be more challenging in other areas. As the medical director for correctional medicine, I’ve got some administrative duties that often push me beyond the limits of my knowledge. Frequently, I’ll find myself sitting across the table from professionals in the legal or financial world, where they speak another language. The problem is that I know just enough to make them think I know what they’re talking about. I know just enough to get myself in trouble.

This partial-knowledge phenomenon is illustrated in today’s passage, which describes the aftermath of King Saul’s death. In the story, a messenger brought word of Saul’s demise to David who asked about the details. The messenger probably witnessed the event, and he must have known that Saul had sought to kill David for years, because he made up a story about killing Saul himself, hoping to earn a reward. David though, had several chances to kill Saul and had not, because he believed it would have been a grave sin to kill God’s anointed king. So, instead of a reward, this lying messenger was put to death. He knew just enough to get himself in trouble.

In my administrative duties, I face a frequent choice. I can admit my ignorance and ask for clarification, or I can fake it and hope that my ignorance isn’t later exposed. I can choose humility now, or I can have it forced upon me later. I don’t enjoy admitting my shortcomings, but it’s far better if I do it up front. When I let my ego make the decision, I get in over my head, revealing that I know just enough to get myself in trouble. Humility works both ways of course. When I’m the one with greater knowledge, I must still choose to be humble. A terrible leader makes his (or her) team feel stupid for asking questions. A great leader encourages growth and curiosity. Whichever side of knowledge I’m on – having a little or having a lot – humility is my best option.