He didn’t like it, and said so. With a buzz-saw.
A literary critic disliked a short story I recently wrote. No one likes to see their magnum opus snubbed, spurned, or shredded. What toasted my grits about this guy’s critique was that I thought he completely missed the point. Seems he was headed to L.A. and took the off-ramp for Omaha instead.
When’s the last time that happened to you? You offered an opinion, answered a question, or presented a viewpoint that was mangled and misconstrued in the hand-off. Your child, spouse, or friend heard your response – but not the explanation. They stomped away fit to be tied. Maybe a prayer request was misheard or misconstrued. Rather than ask for clarification, the hearer runs around using your “request” to fuel the church rumor mill.
Misperceptions. Misunderstandings. Missed off-ramps. Aren’t they annoying? Frustrating? Maddening? As in: she was dense. He didn’t get it. They were insensitive, rude, jumped to conclusions, assumed facts not in evidence, are hauling a brick short of a load.
But look at it another way: what does your response to being misunderstood say about you?
In my case, I wanted to give the editorial Boy Wonder a piece of my mind – before it blew. But is that how the Lord Jesus responded to his critics? (If you recall, they were mostly the religious leaders of the day.)
Maybe that negative critique raised some good points – even I disagreed with them. Maybe that disappointment or misunderstanding is an opportunity to grow more Fruit of the Spirit, especially in the Patience, Gentleness and Self Control Departments (Galatians 5:22,23).
Now I’m not saying we wink at or excuse careless or insensitive behavior or park ourselves in the middle of the Tactless Turnpike and get run over. But within the context of constructive criticism, are the wounds of a friend -- okay, even a critic -- sometimes better than the kisses of an enemy (Proverbs 27:6)? Can God use what we see as “negative” feedback to lop off some pride, slice away some self-centeredness, prune back some myopia and polish us into a better reflection of his Son?
That guy with the buzz-saw cut a little too close. But now I’m thinking, What can I learn from this? Put another way: Maybe it’s time for a shave.
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