Lessons from
Kickball
By Lexi Ellis
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their
failures, criticize their faults - - unless, of course, you want the same
treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to
the ugly sneer on your own.”
Matthew
7:1-3 (The Message, emphasis added)
I
recently noticed something while supervising recess. During kickball, a kicker often
sends the ball back to the pitcher, claiming it was too fast or not straight.
Automatically, the outfield complains. “Just
kick it." "Hurry up!" "That was straight!" However, when the teams have switched, the
once-complainers do the same thing, demanding the “perfect pitch.” Now the new
outfield team complains, echoing identical phrases. Back and forth, the
outfield complains at the kicker sending the ball back…until it’s their turn.
And while it’s funny to watch, I realized we often do the exact same thing: We’re critical of someone else, but find plenty of excuses for when we do the exact same thing. I’m annoyed when someone is running late, but justify why I’m late myself another time. I make a judgment on someone’s response and then have that same attitude another day. Unfortunately, this isn’t unheard of in the Christian community. We are heartbroken by past prominent Christian leaders who were vocally critical of sin…only to find out they were entrenched in that same struggle.
The
paraphrase of the verse above uses “sneers” and “smudges” instead of the common
“splinter” and “plank in the eye” translation. If I’m honest, there are times
my thoughts quickly jump on someone else’s smudge - - his or her failures or
faults. And sadly, our dwelling on this smudge often is, in reality, an attempt
to inflate ourselves. How foolish of us! Jesus goes on in this verse to call
this what it is: pure hypocrisy. Dwelling on someone else’s smudge and ignoring
my own sneer is not only a lack of compassion, it reveals an uglier, judgmental
condition of my heart.
Being
critical of others’ shortcomings quickly turns into something I use to boost
myself up. Unfortunately, because we all have sin and things we’re working on,
the things I’m critical of are commonly the very things I am no better at when
I remove the excuses I use to make my own faults “different” or “okay.”
It’s
pretty silly seeing my kids complain and do the same thing moments later in an
easy-going game of kickball at recess. But I’m thankful for the reminder to
reject time and energy spent on others’ smudges and choose to invest it in
asking for His help in continually addressing my sneers.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Take time to honestly reflect on the time and
energy you spend on others’ smudges.
2. Take time
alone with your God to repent and ask His forgiveness.
FURTHER READING:
Lexi
is married to Andrew, serves with Oakwood’s Children’s Ministries, teaches at Lake Country
Christian Academy
and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.
