It Was Out of Context

Over the last few days I have had the opportunity to listen to Rev. Jeremiah Wright, 2008 Presidential Candidate Barack Obama's pastor, do an interview with Bill Moyer's and give two different speeches, one for the NAACP and one for the Press Club. Plus, I downloaded the interview with Bill Moyer and read the transcript. Although I didn't agree 100% with everything that Rev. Wright said, I found that I couldn't write down fast enough all the words of wisdom coming from his heart--thoughts and insights I wanted to remember.

Therefore, it was extremely disconcerting to me to later hear his speech critiqued by newscasters who obviously could only give their audience soundbites from the speech. As I listened it was a reminder that making a judgment after only hearing snippets of a situation that takes what was said out of context can give the wrong impression and cause one to come to a wrong, if not dangerous, conclusion. I would have had a whole different perspective if all I knew about Rev. Wright's words was what I had learned from the newscast.

Is It I?

Whenever we have a problem in any relationship whether it is with a spouse, a friend, a colleague, a neighbor, or whoever, it would be wise to follow the example of Christ's 12 Apostles at the Last Supper. When Christ told them that one of them would betray Him, they didn't start pointing fingers as to who they thought the person would be. Instead each looked sorrowfully within himself and asked, "Is it I?" (Matthew 26:22)

When we respond to our problematic situations with a similar introspection it will be an opportunity to smooth away some rough edges on our character and avoid criticism which can only be divisive. People, and especially those who may be causing us some frustration, are not in our individual world by coincidence. They are in our world for our growth. If we complain and act like a martyr rather than take 95% of the responsibility for the problem, we'll miss an opportunity tailored just for us to refine our character.