You know what really grinds my gears?

I am a very perceptive person. And, as a very perceptive person, I am very good at identifying others’ flaws and shortcomings. By whose standard you may ask? Mine.

I see people messing up all the time. I’m really good at it.

I can pick out people’s driving and parking flaws. I can notice when someone isn’t chewing their food correctly. I can immediately identify when someone says a word wrong and feel like it is my duty to immediately correct them. It’s my duty! Sometimes I feel like the most important person in the world who has been charged with the task of correcting the wrong and judging the mistaken. 

Now, as I hope you can all tell, I was just laying it on pretty thick there…

But, there’s another side of the coin to consider. Our Side.

For instance, the other day in mass, I noticed this lady reading one of the information cards in the pew DURING THE CONSECRATION! I was racking my brain, trying to figure out some sort of explanation for how she could think that card was more important than our Lord. Unbelievable! How dare she?! I mean, our Lord has just appeared and at that moment she is choosing to look at some piece of paper? Not cool lady... not cool.

Then it hit me...

While I was judging her for not paying attention during the consecration, I wasn't paying attention either.

 *cough* hypocrite *cough*

This also happens when I am exercising my duties as a spiritual leader in our home. I will be struggling in my prayer life or with my relationship with God, and I will assume my wife is too. So, like an idiot, I ask her how she's doing spiritually and try to encourage her, when the entire time the problem lies with me! I'm so holy... 

Often times, the things that frustrate us about others are the things that frustrate us about ourselves. 

So, on that bombshell, I will leave you with the words of my late mother (God rest her soul) that come and tap me on the shoulder every single time I get into this "I'm better than them" mindset:

Sweep your own doorstep first.

Lance Rosen