Like most of you, I sit amazed at the downfall of South Carolina's governor, Mark Sanford. I have mixed emotions. Sure, he committed a sin. But this is between him and God to sort out. Not me and you to judge him.

A part of me feels bad for him. Since the revelation, I have spoken several prayers for him and his family. It is sad in so many ways. But life moves on hopefully in a good way for him and his family.

There are two concepts in process improvement that come to my mind as I collect my thoughts on this issue. Both involve the management of variation.