Someone sent me this story the other day, and I wanted to share it with you because it carries a lot of wisdom and meaning for any reader. Why is it the human condition seems to have this tendency? How do we overcome it? As individuals? As a community? As a world? Where do we find the solution to this equation? Science? Faith? Once you reflect on this illustration, you will hopefully identify and begin to reflect on what needs to be changed in you.
A Teacher came into her classroom and wrote the following on the board:
9 x 1 = 7
9 x 2 = 18
9 x 3 = 27
9 x 4 = 36
9 x 5 = 45
9 x 6 = 54
9 x 7 = 63
9 x 8 = 72
9 x 9 = 81
9 x 10 = 90
When she was done, she looked at the students and they were ALL laughing at her for getting the first equation wrong.
The teacher let the laughter die down and then said the following.
“I wrote the first one wrong on purpose because I wanted you to see how the world will treat you when you mess up.
I got ONE thing wrong. But I wrote the right answer nine times.
This is how people in the world will treat you. They will criticize the one wrong thing you do and skip over the million good things you’ve done.”
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“Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.” ~ Zig Ziglar
When I read the teacher’s comments, I get convicted. I have been quick to criticize and yet hate it when it happens to me. The broken nature of humans is puzzling for everyone. Faith might say, “humanity is flawed from birth because we live in a fallen world.” Science might say, “we are in the midst of an evolutionary process; it’s only nature at work; it’s the survival of the fittest. Regardless of why this condition exists, we know it runs deep in the human race worldwide.
29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift (Ephesians 4:29).
There is hope, spiritually speaking. If I have a rock in my shoe, what matters, how it got there, or what will you do about it? The rock of judgment and quickly zooming in on others’ flaws can be removed from our shoes if we are willing to own the fact that we are the most broken person we know. When I started to look at the telephone pole in my eye instead of the fragment in yours, my life changed. As my heart grew in love, I became interested in building you up instead of pulling you down.
The more committed I became to loving God and neighbor as a model for living the spiritual life, my life changed for the best. The poison of judgment still exists in my blood, and I always can be quick to judge in my mind, but if I can uncover, discover, and discard this poison, I can have victory over its sting and spare another one of God’s kids my careless wrath.
My Creator, You know my heart and the heart of humanity. On this day, I ask You to remove from me the rock of judgment that has poisoned my heart. Please allow me to see my true self the way You see me. Please grant me the ability to deliver compassion, love, understanding, and generosity to everyone I engage today. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. Amen.
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