Matthew 7:3-5 “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

At work, I have been learning something about myself. There is a gentleman with whom I work who absolutely detests me. I don't have to say anything or do anything, as long as I am in the same vicinity as him, he is annoyed and peeved off at me. There are just somethings about me that he really does not like. To my mind, that is his problem, not mine. I do not try and aggravate him and instead I typically try and stay away from him. It makes work easier for both of us. There is another gentleman with whom I work who just irritates me to no end. I caught myself thinking one day that he did things just because they annoyed me. Then I was convicted. I disliked him like this other guy disliked me. It was probably not his fault that I did not like him, he was just who he was. It was my problem that I was easily irked by him. Certainly he was not trying to irritate me (at least I hope so). It was my failing, not his. I saw fault with him and when I looked again at the situation the greater fault was mine. His particle of sawdust was glaring me in one eye while with the other I could see nothing but a redwood trunk, and I had been thinking that I was the right one. He had both eyes to see while I only had one. He had depth perception while I saw in two dimensions. Until I know why and what my problem is with this guy, I can not do anything about it, and I can not help him be less irritating to some of the others at work either.

Often times we find ourselves in such a situation as this. Your details are probably different from mine, but the same state of affairs exists. We all are walking lumberyards, our sawmills grinding away and throwing dust into the air to catch in other's eyes. Before we are able to aid each other, to encourage, and to help uplift each other we must first remove our own planks of judgment. If we remain partially blinded, then by what right are we to ask others to improve themselves and to fix their sight. However, if we make the effort to clean ourselves up, to improve ourself and have our vision repaired first, then when we try and help our world then their refusal is not on our heads. We must be corrected first before we can ask others to change, and if we cannot truly see the light of Christ, how can we explain it to others?

Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
Ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!