Author Byron J. Langenfield once wrote, “Rare is the person who can weigh the faults of others without putting his thumb on the scales.” One of our greatest failings as humans is our propensity to be blatantly critical of others. In politics, it seems to dominate the discourse, but, while our elected leaders crowd the top shelf when it comes to being purveyors of dirt, slander, and vitriol, all of us at one time or another must admit that we too have been guilty of building ourselves up at the expense of tearing others down.
One of my favorite passages in scripture is found in Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 7 verses 1–5 when Jesus instructs us to…
Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so shall you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.
Jesus clearly chides us by making it clear that criticism is the weapon of the weak seeking false strength through the belittlement of others. It is a weapon aimed the wrong way. Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn but it takes moral responsibility to be understanding, forgiving, and loving…and sometimes silent.
The following poem, from an author unknown, reminds us of what responsibilities we should take care of first and foremost:
If You Were
If you were busy being kind,
Before you knew it, you would find,
You’d soon forget to think ‘twas true
That someone was unkind to you.
If you were busy being glad,
And cheering people who were sad,
Although your heart might ache a bit,
You’d soon forget to notice it.
If you were busy being good,
And doing just the best you could,
You’d not have time to blame some man
Who’s doing just the best he can.
If you were busy being right,
You’d find yourself too busy quite
To criticize your neighbor long
Because he’s busy being wrong.
We all have weaknesses. But I have figured that others have put up with mine so tolerantly that I would be less than fair not to make a reasonable discount for theirs. – William Allen White
Have an AWE-full Weekend!
William “Bill” Bacque