Criticisim

My Pastor puts out a daily devotional and I wanted to share this. Growing up overwieght, I faced a lot of criticisim and sarcastic remarks as I'm sure the great majority of us have. You would think that with the crap I dealt with that I would be more sensitive to how I treat others. This is something that I am going to work on for 2010.


WHAT A LEGEND LOOKS LIKE

"So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God."
Romans 14:10

Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who turned 99 in 2009, was once asked his opinion of former Indiana coach Bobby Knight. Wooden would only respond, "I think Bob Knight is an outstanding teacher of the game of basketball. I don't approve of his methods, but I'm not a judge, and I'm not judging Bob Knight. There is so much bad in the best of us and so much good in the worst of us, it hardly behooves me to talk about the rest of us."

I think he understands what Henry Kaiser once said, "When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt."

Wooden has shown us what a legend looks like. He not only was a gentleman on the court, he holds records that may never be broken. His 10 national championships, his 88 game winning streak, his phenomenal winning percentage, the players he groomed for stardom in the NBA; this is his legacy; he has no reason to add the title of "outspoken critic" to the list.

In your life and mine, in your work and mine, there are a number of potential (even "worthy") targets of our own outspoken criticism. If we're not careful, they can take up all of our time. If we're not careful, we can be sidetracked into thinking our opinions are more important than our actions.

It's what you do that ultimately makes a difference. Talk isn't enough. Opinions aren't enough. Criticism, no matter how on-target or well-articulated it might be, isn't enough. You prove who you are by the way you live.

Paul asked, "So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God." (Romans 14:10)

Let's strive toward leaving a legacy built, not upon our estimation of others, but upon our own measurable accomplishments.

Criticize less, do more.

That's what a legend looks like.

Thanks Wayne

this has reminded me that to focus negatively on others (and ourselves) takes up so much of my physical and emotional energy.

It seems to me that it takes up far less energy to focus positively (on others and ourselves).

So I can 'do' so much more positive than I can negative for the same amount of energy expended.

I know which is more "energy efficient" and which I'd rather focus on....

Thank you for sharing these inspirational words Wayne 

We have missed you posting in our challenge.  Let us know how you are doing or if you want email me.

Take care,
Kathy