Just Some Thoughts...

Hmm.. can't get to sleep... a little bothered by something that happened today.... Hmm..

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Matt 7:3-5

I have been thinking about this: Constructive criticism and Receiving feedback. I have learnt that it is important to learn to receive feedback cuz this is one of the most important, or rather, this is the key to improving. One man cannot see his own mistakes but others can see it plainly. Well, i must say it is not easy to receive feedback. It requires humility to submit to the other person's advice. It requires trust - to trust that the person means for your good and not to bring u down. And even if u do not trust that person that much, to trust that God will give u the wisdom to discern and submit. It requires a positive mind to move on and work at being better the next time round, and not get beaten down. It requires obedience. It requires patience to listen to what he/she has to say.

On the other hand, i feel too, that we need to give constructive criticism. Are we thinking through before we speak? When i receive feedback, i constantly filter off many things that i feel, at that moment, is not meaningful or true. When i do not agree with the person, i tend to shut off after a while.. Honestly there are many times, that deep in my heart, im thinking, "Hey, who are u to tell me this... u urself are unable to walk your talk..." But at that moment, i also pause and ponder if i'm focusing on the speck of sawdust in my brother's eyes, ignoring the plank in my own, as Matt 7 says.

Simply receive criticism? No matter if it is true or untrue or half-true? Is it wise? My facial expressions always show exactly what i'm thinking. If i don't agree with u, it's plain to see.. The Lord has been telling me, "Crow, just take it in... It's ok... It's really ok.." I need to learn to really take it in and then later filter it with the Lord. Learn to die to my own desire, my own rights, my own achievements.. Learn to listen to what others have to say.

I think it is not easy. Especially when we know that man is imperfect. Man tends to be biased in opinions. And yet, the Lord says, learn to just take it in.

Well, what have i to lose? Just some face lah... hahahaa.

"I have been crucified with Christ, and i no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life i live, in the body, i live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me". Galatians 2:20

Die daily, that u may live life to the full.