The Mote and The Beam
I stay away from politics and religion on the ol’ blog and this is something I wanted to share as it came up in a discussion with a friend recently. It isn’t only religious, which many of you will see as religious, but for all of us it has to do with basic people people skills.
The reference is a well known one-
Matt. 7: 3-5:
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
The most common interpretation of these verses is that we shouldn’t look for faults in others when we have bigger faults of our own, or at least something to that effect. I believe that is not what these verses mean. To me it is much more significant, and I admit, there is probably more I am still missing.
The idea of finding fault in others is:
1. The cause of the beam.
2. And it is so serious a mistake, that it, in and of itself, is worse (and more blinding) than whatever it is that other individual has done.
3. By not finding fault in others/judging/condemning, we put ourselves in a position to help them, both by having clearer judgment and by just being a friend they know they can turn to.
Easier said than done I know. I wanted to make this entry to emphasize how damaging criticism, judgment and blame is. I think that we are only hurting ourselves when we look at others and think or talk about their mistakes, flaws and short comings. I have seen this, even in the name of religion, that self righteous judgment can be extremely destructive and push away those that otherwise need our help or friendship. I stay away from politics and religion on the ol’ blog and this is something I wanted to share as it came up in a discussion with a friend recently. It isn’t only religious, which many of you will see as religious, but for all of us it has to do with basic people people skills.
The reference is a well known one-
Matt. 7: 3-5:
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
The most common interpretation of these verses is that we shouldn’t look for faults in others when we have bigger faults of our own, or at least something to that effect. I believe that is not what these verses mean. To me it is much more significant, and I admit, there is probably more I am still missing.
The idea of finding fault in others is:
1. The cause of the beam.
2. And it is so serious a mistake, that it, in and of itself, is worse (and more blinding) than whatever it is that other individual has done.
3. By not finding fault in others/judging/condemning, we put ourselves in a position to help them, both by having clearer judgment and by just being a friend they know they can turn to.
Easier said than done I know. I wanted to make this entry to emphasize how damaging criticism, judgment and blame is. I think that we are only hurting ourselves when we look at others and think or talk about their mistakes, flaws and short comings. I have seen this, even in the name of religion, that self righteous judgment can be extremely destructive and push away those that otherwise need our help or friendship.
A cross between Enemy of the State and 2001 A Space Odessy