Finding Balance in our Inner Critic - October 3

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 106:1-18; PM Psalm 106:19-48; Hosea 14:1-9; Acts 22:30-23:11; Luke 6:39-49

Two extremes come to mind.  On one hand, the person who is hypercritical of all others, whom no one can live up to their expectations, and who is always finding fault in the other.  The other applies the same wisdom to their own lives being the worse inner critic causing a harshly negative view on the existence of one’s own life, and yet they can see others with profound optimism exacerbating the shame of their own life. Most of us probably know a few who live in the extremes, and maybe less charitably have found ourselves from time to time, pushed in one direction or another. 

Like most things in life, balance is key.  Today’s text is a parable from Luke where Jesus tells those gathered, “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye…when you do not see the log in your own eye?”  He is talking about the people who are overly critical of others.  And yet is it possible that we become so overwhelmed with the log in our own eye, that we fail to see our own capacity to share God’s love with this world?  Jesus does remind us in the parable that no good tree bears bad fruit and that a good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good.  He isn’t offering an impossible standard, but a way and a real possibility for us all. 

I was struck by the words of Heather King in a reflection this week through the Center for Action and Contemplation who illustrates this point quite beautifully.  “We can try, at great personal sacrifice, to be perfectly righteous, a perfect friend, perfectly responsive, perfectly available, perfectly forgiving. But at the heart of our efforts must lie the knowledge that, by ourselves, we can do, heal, or correct nothing. The point is not to be perfect, but to “perfectly” leave Christ to do, heal, and correct in us what he wills.” 

We don’t have to be perfect, nor do our neighbors, friends, colleagues, or critics.  Be kind to yourself, and others too.  The answer is often found in the balance.  And so is Christ, there to transform our hearts and help the fruit of our works be good. 

John+ 

Questions for Self-Reflection:  When have you seen the strongest critic coming out in yourself?  What are the themes, reasons, and situations that cause this critic to emerge?  Is it warranted or is some self-reflection on today’s reading helpful?

Daily Challenge: Read the reflection from Heather King today.