Lessons from Kickball
By Lexi Ellis
“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.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no
attention to the plank in your own eye?
Matthew
7:1-3 (NIV)
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 Message 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 and her
husband, Andrew, have an adorable dog named Calvin. Lexi teaches sixth grade
Reading and Writing. She serves with Children’s Ministries and is the Fresh
Start Coordinator.
