Introducing the Newest in Mirror Technology - Not Really! It's Just Your Ego!
“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” - Matthew 7:3-5.
Have you ever wondered why you can spot a speck in your neighbor's eye but utterly oblivious to the massive log lodged in your own?
Perhaps you can't see your log because it's expertly camouflaged, blending seamlessly with your natural habitat. On the other hand, the speck in your neighbor's eye stands out like a sore thumb, or should we say, a sore eye?
You may have purchased the latest in mirror technology. Looking in the mirror, you might see a flawless individual with impeccable taste and unmatched wit. This, my friend, is not HD clarity but rather an 'Ego Filter.' Sensing your fragility, your mirror magically airbrushes out the log, showing you a version of yourself with just the proper touch-ups. Your neighbor, however, unfortunately, doesn't have this same luxury.
Or it could be that we often focus on the flaws of others, which is rooted in our inherent cognitive biases. It is easier to shift our attention externally and criticize others rather than confront our imperfections.
A groupthink mentality also drives us to see the speck in our neighbor's eye. When one person points out the "speck" in another's eye, it's not uncommon for others to join the chorus, thus reinforcing the group's shared beliefs and values, even if they're misplaced.
While cognitive biases and societal pressures play a role, the heart of the matter lies in the challenge of self-introspection.
And self-introspection requires humility.
Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us." - Romans 12:3.
Before pointing out the speck in someone else's eye, reflect on the log that might be in your own.
Acknowledging the log in our eyes, we truly begin to see clearly.
Jamey