In Critical Condition
As a pastor, I have walked the hospital corridors many times, visiting parishoners who are in critical condition.
Often, these folks are in the intensive care unit. Sometimes they don't make it. Sometimes, through excellent medical care and lots of prayers, they get to return home.
I've been thinking, however, that there are a lot of people walking around in "critical condition" and they don't even realize it.
They have a 'condition" called a critical spirit.
They criticize their family members.
They criticize their boss.
They criticize the town board.
They criticize the school administrators.
They criticize the church.
They criticize the government.
They criticize the snow removal crews.
They criticize the utility companies.
They criticize their neighbors.
Now, if that's not a "critical condition", what is?
I appreciate Bobb Biehl's advice to "develop critical thinking without a critical attitude."
Great minds ponder and debate great ideas.
Average minds talk about average experiences (i.e. the weather)
Small minds gripe about other people.
Benjamin Disraeli once said, "To belittle is to BE LITTLE."
Unfortunately, a tiny narrow mind is often accompanied by a big wide mouth. It might pay us all to heed the wisdom of Solomon, "Don't talk too much. It only fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!" (Proverbs 10:10)
Often, these folks are in the intensive care unit. Sometimes they don't make it. Sometimes, through excellent medical care and lots of prayers, they get to return home.
I've been thinking, however, that there are a lot of people walking around in "critical condition" and they don't even realize it.
They have a 'condition" called a critical spirit.
They criticize their family members.
They criticize their boss.
They criticize the town board.
They criticize the school administrators.
They criticize the church.
They criticize the government.
They criticize the snow removal crews.
They criticize the utility companies.
They criticize their neighbors.
Now, if that's not a "critical condition", what is?
I appreciate Bobb Biehl's advice to "develop critical thinking without a critical attitude."
Great minds ponder and debate great ideas.
Average minds talk about average experiences (i.e. the weather)
Small minds gripe about other people.
Benjamin Disraeli once said, "To belittle is to BE LITTLE."
Unfortunately, a tiny narrow mind is often accompanied by a big wide mouth. It might pay us all to heed the wisdom of Solomon, "Don't talk too much. It only fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!" (Proverbs 10:10)
Criticism or constructive advice? It is in the eye of the beholder. The situation should be admonished not the individual.
ReplyDeleteThe truth often hurts, but we are made better people by it. It also depends if the person receives it with a humble spirit and an open heart. It should also be given the same way.
The more defensive a person is upon receiving advice, the more warranted the advice was.
Good point. Correction should be received -- and given -- with a humble spirit and an open heart.
ReplyDeleteAs Biehl said, "cultivate critical thinking without a critical spirit."
CRITICISM OR CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE?
ReplyDeleteIn the eye of the beholder -
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS - we know they were given with love for our own good
Contructive Advice (Rules to keep) to the person with an open heart and living right.
Unwarranted Criticism to the person with a hard heart and wrong lifestyle.
Critcism! / Construcive advice! Hummmmmm
ReplyDeleteWe all get this in our life time.
Often when we think it is not needed.
We can not control what other's say, but we can control how we react to it. We should take it for what it is. Advice.. it could be good advice whispered in your ear" you got a bugger hanging out of your nose" and do something fast or the same advice hollered out from the back of the chruch would still be good advice but with different results.
The motive in the first case was to keep the recipient from embaressment and in the second case the intent was to get a laugh at the recipients expence.
Sorry Walt
ReplyDeleteI did not know about the mole on your nose.
You got to admit, it was funny.
Old lady Jenkens laughed so hard, she had to go to the bath room.
Sometimes I just blurt out the first thing that comes into my mind. It's a flaw I am working on.
Please forgive me for being a knucklehead.
Still love you
Jim
Is criticism good or bad? Every 10 weeks I am evaluated by each and every student. This is mandated by the university. Once a year I am evaluated by my peers and superiors(deans). Hidden among the thousands of wonderful comments and scores, I am sometimes stung by what some might deem as unwarranted criticism. But I have to admit, when the initial pain stops and I really think about the criticsm, I find that often times it is constructive advice. And I can use it to make me a better teacher of mathematics. And perhaps reach even one more student in the future. Yes Walter, I have to be careful how I react to it.
ReplyDelete