The Critic

The Critic

How can you think of saying, “Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,” when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?

Luke 6:42

It was a beautiful March day. The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing gently, and the early spring flowers were beginning to bud. It was much too beautiful to stay at home. So George and Wendy decided to spend the day out and about, doing things they loved to do, just the two of them.

Wendy packed a nice picnic lunch; they put the top down on their old Thunderbird convertible and headed into the city. They would visit a favorite museum and then have lunch in the downtown park, where they could feed the ducks and walk along the tree-covered paths by the lake.

After wandering through the history museum and looking through a few shops along Main Street, they stopped at the car for the picnic basket and walked to the park, where they indulged in chicken salad, fruit, French bread, and chocolate cake for dessert.

Putting the basket back in the car, George suggested they visit the nearby art gallery. George considered himself an expert on fine art. So as they entered the lobby, he looked at the image hanging there and began to analyze it.

“First of all, that frame is not fit for a fine painting. Second, the matting around the edge is the wrong color. And third, the subject is not even worthy to be painted. Look, his clothes are wrinkled. He’s lifeless, drab, and sour looking, and . . .”

Wendy giggled and interrupted his critique. “Honey, that’s not a painting. That is a mirror!”

Father, it is so easy to be blind to the realities of our own lives and to criticize others. We need your Word to be our mirror so we can see what needs to be changed in our lives. Thank you for loving us anyway, Father. Amen.