Confessional #1

To be honest, this topic did not even come up in my thoughts when I was thinking about the different topics I could address.  This will also be pretty short and sweet unlike some of the other ones that I have brewing.  So here we go!

I once heard a sermon or a talk or read about how sometimes the things we dislike in other people are the very things that we need to change and that we dislike in ourselves.  I believe this comes up a lot in “gossip-y” type situations.  The concept harks back to the plank in your own eye and speck of dust in someone else’s.  I am much more prone to ignore my plank and criticize the toothpick (analogy courtesy of Mark Driscoll).

Example from my own life:

1. I hate when people move my stuff.  If I come home and someone’s moved my books or towel or whatever I am disgruntled and don’t understand why they would feel that whatever item had to be moved right then rather than waiting for me to move it later.  I dislike it especially if the “item” has not been there very long or if there was seemingly no reason to move it.

A. Let’s be honest…does it really matter?! Not really in the big picture.

B. I move people’s things too…maybe I want to eat at the table or read on the couch so I move something.

C. Too often my first reaction when someone has moved my things is: “Okay well if they’re going to do that then I’m going to do the same thing back at them.” Example: If they move my towel, I’ll move theirs.  This reaction is so trivial and preschool yet I still catch myself thinking this way.  Hardly do I ever think “How nice they put such and such item away for me” or “Oh they must have wanted the space.”

So here’s to looking at the plank in my eye before jumping at the speck of dust.  Looking at my heart and my motives first to see if they line up with Christ-like character rather than being quick to anger.  To developing a “quiet and gentle” spirit.