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Luke Chapter 6: 39-40:
“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s
eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? I’ve never liked this reading from Luke. Perhaps because it hits too close to “home.” By that I mean, one of the hardest things for me is to be disciplined enough to concentrate on improving my own ways of acting….when it is so much easier to tell others what they should do. I am beginning the journey into my “wisdom” years. That means that I am getting to the age when one’s brain begins developing new connections that can lead to seeing life a little differently…seeing life with some “wisdom.” (At least that is what I have gained from reading the book, “The Mature Mind” by Dr. Gene Cohen). Hopefully these “wisdom” years will help me develop the self-discipline to “stop and look at the total situation” before making hasty statements or judgments. This discipline of stopping to review the situation is exactly what Barbara Vasiloff and her team teach in their Discipline With Purpose educational materials. They teach that “self-discipline” helps persons acquire the skill to “stop” and choose the appropriate action before acting. Lord, give us wisdom. Help us be better disciples. Help us learn self-discipline in our own lives before judging the actions of others. Help us become “wise” as we grow older and look forward to those “wisdom” years so we can share appropriately with others. Bless us in our daily journeys and help us live your prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Amen. |