Self-Awareness and Patience

Have you ever driven past the scene of an accident and found yourself grumbling at "those rubberneckers" that slow down the traffic? Or have you ever waited in line at the grocery store and been angry at those people who aren't prepared to pay? Or have you ever gotten upset because your co-worker took your stapler without asking and didn't return it?

Guess what? They are you. For every thing you're upset that someone else has done, there's at least one thing you've done to upset someone else. We are all guilty of doing the things we get mad at others for doing. Sometimes for doing exactly the same thing!

For some reason, we are all blind to our own faults and failings, but keenly aware of the faults and failings of others. What might happen if we stopped looking and pointing fingers at others, and started becoming more self-aware? What if we acknowledged, owned, and accepted our own goof ups? What if we forgave ourselves first and then forgave others, too? This might be a more patient world if we gave others leeway and respect, the same that we hope others will give us.

Narrative Lectionary Text: Matthew 26:17-25

On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’ He answered, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’ Judas, who betrayed him, said, ‘Surely not I, Rabbi?’ He replied, ‘You have said so.’