Our local newspaper is an easy target. I write for them so I’m sensitive when people become critical about how they cover a story or make a mistake. Easy targets.
Unfortunately when a newspaper makes a mistake, everyone berates them. If someone’s name is misspelled or a headline reads funny, the phone calls pour in from all the “yes I use English perfectly all the time” people. If one school doesn’t make the front of the sports page, all the fans cry favoritism.
Newspapers are put together fairly quickly. Mistakes will happen. Sometimes the results may even be humorous. Easy targets.
What I can’t figure out is why do people think it is ok to bash, blame and belittle an entity that is really supportive of the community?
Newspapers are easy targets.
Easy targets
When I am on the receiving end, my fists come out or tears cascade down.
But I began thinking about easy targets this morning and realized I am just as guilty. I think the Lord is exposing my own critical nature.
A few weeks ago I became irritated with a friend who made fun of the outfit the television weather gal was wearing. I shook my head at her disparaging attitude until I remembered saying the same judgmental critique a few weeks before.
I laugh at someone.
I judge another.
I taunt the ref at the game.
It’s easy to be offended when I am the target, but not so straightforward when I am the offender.
Easy targeting is just another name for adult bullying.
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others,
you will be judged,
and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
(Matt 7:1-2; NIV)
One of my favorite authors, Catherine Marshall, wrote about taking a fast from criticalness in her book A Closer Walk.
“What God is showing me so far can be summed up as follows:
1. A critical spirit focuses us on ourselves and makes us unhappy. We lost perspective and humor.
2. A critical spirit blocks the positive creative thoughts God longs to give us.
3. A critical spirit can prevent good relationships between individuals and often produces retaliatory criticalness.
4. Criticalness blocks the work of the Spirit of God: love, goodwill, mercy
5. Whenever we see something genuinely wrong in another person’s behavior, rather than criticize him or her directly or – far worse- gripe about him behind his back, we should ask the Spirit of God to do the correction needed.”
Good words of advice!
I plan to listen more to what I am saying and thinking. Time to shed the weight of criticalness and being so judgmental. Keep my mouth shut and clean up my attitude. Rid myself of ridicule.
Easy targets? How about no targets for sharp unnecessary words?
How about you?
How do you control being judgmental about others and taking stabs at easy targets?
I am sure when the time is right, the words will come. Sorry you had a foggy day. Can’t be easy.
Well, it didn’t work out. I had terrible fibro-fog. I may finish it for my site soon.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting today. Lots of negativity in our culture probably aids us in finding easy targets. You added some good thoughts to the conversation.
Thanks Lynn, Catharine Marshall has been a lifelong favorite of mine. Where are you writing about negativity?
You are so kind, Dolly. I am thinking of trying to focus more on God and seeing people through Him than focusing on the wrongs/mistakes/and even the evil others create. Him, not me.
I am so glad you can see progress. So often we aren’t gentle enough with ourselves to see us as God sees us. When I wrote this I didn’t think about my kids. wow you are so right. I know I am catty too often and really desire to shed that skin.
Dear sweet Jean
Oh yes, it is always the best to just “zip the lip”. I have found that being critical in my life, was also a way of trying to hide my insecurities. Looking at the faults of others, made me feel much better about my own. When a believer overtly sins, he also needs to be addressed in private and with gentleness.
Blessings XX
Mia
Good reminder, Jean. It starts in my mind, the negativity the targeting. We learn thinking patterns from examples that surrounded our growing up years, and well as now. And I need to catch myself when those patterns start re-emerging–and forming into words for my tongue, need to shift to “whatever is” true and lovely, and give thanks, give thanks.
(Thanks for this.)
Great post, Jean! And great minds think alike. I’m working on a piece for another site about negativity. Love the section from Catharine Marshall. And love the rest, too! Of course!
Jean,
love your tender heart to listen and obey God’s promptings for change…I so get it…I am aware of how I need to be gracious to our girl and how easy it is to focus on what she did wrong and not to praise her for all she did right…constantly asking God for help in this area..
Oh, Jean–this is so true! I think about times when my kids were young and I was overly critical of them. I thought I was simply trying to teach them the difference between right and wrong, forgetting sometimes that these dear, tender ones were still learning, still growing–still in process. I think of this verse “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
God is so patient with me. And, when I look back and see from where He’s brought me, I think it helps me to be more patient and compassionate toward others who are still in process.