"You know, this person is just so difficult?"
"How so?"
"He/She doesn't reply when I call or message him/her! Doesn't that just irritate you?"
....Aren't you doing the same thing to others who try to contact you?
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Had this type of conversation not just once, twice or even thrice. (Note: The content isn't exactly word for word, but the meaning is the same).
It has been repeated countless times, with one of the more impressionable ones just a few months ago.
In all honesty, it's not just talking with others that I see this, but also in a inner dialogue, something which I've neglected of late. Ultimately, the question that came to my mind was this after a period of random musings today:
How do we react when we're dealing with the negative part of ourselves?
Very often, it may well seem that we can be as blind as a bat ourselves, despite all the eye surgery or spectacles or whatnot that we deign to go through or apply. Blind not to the sight of beautiful things, but very blind to our own faults.
If it's shown in others, it's so easy to spot.
But if we ourselves practise them, they suddenly become invisible.
As the Son has implied in the Word, we should be taking the plank out of our own eyes before telling others that they have a speck in theirs.
Or at the very least, be aware of it and find ways to deal with it.
To be a little more blunt, let's put it this way.
Not happy that people aren't replying? Well, are there instances where you don't reply or answer other people as well? What are the reasons? Could those reasons perhaps be similar for the people who did not give you an answer?
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Another catalyst that caused me to remember this was - surprise, surprise - an anime I watched about a little sister having to deal with a character with traits strikingly similar to hers. The way she talks, acts, behaves towards her elder brother, that is.
It was hilarious to watch because of her personality and knowing that she is getting a taste of her own medicine, but perhaps in our context we might not find it so funny.
We make jokes about others sometimes without knowing how sensitive it might be and sometimes apologize halfheartedly because it 'seems like the right thing to do'.
We hit others according to our gauge of 'a little strength'. Criticise others for being insensitive, for misunderstand us. For mouthing off things impulsively in the heat of anger. Sometimes things they don't really mean what they say.
"The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed."
Perhaps things aren't as serious in our present context, but....
Are you prepared to have people joking about things that are sensitive to you?
Are you prepared to be hit by what others consider to be using 'just' a little strength?
Are you prepared to be criticised for being insensitive towards others?
Are you prepared to be criticised for misunderstanding other people?
Are you prepared to be chastised for speaking on an impulse?
Sometimes, we can't see beyond our own faults. Especially for adults.
Especially for people like me.
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How do we deal with it?
Change, of course. First with awareness of our own faults and our own actions, then taking steps to change and move in the direction we want to.
The notion itself may be idealistic, considering how people are a fallen lot, but wouldn't it be better if we are constantly reflecting upon our actions, just as we constantly ask God for forgiveness for the wrong things we do?
Besides, change doesn't happen immediately. It takes time.
It will do a world of good to ourselves AND to others if everyone knows about that and understands.
So...I'm going to get a soul mirror sometimes soon.
Will you be getting one too?
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