The pot and the kettle or which fingers are pointing where
I was visiting with a good friend early this morning via email and “found myself,” suggesting that he take better care of himself by not working on Sunday. As soon as I typed that sentence Grandma Fannie made a cameo appearance and suggested that “the pot was calling the kettle black.” I also do work on Sunday and every other day of the week. I have a commitment to my clients to be available as needed except for the time I am with another client, attending a symphony performance or otherwise committed. I will call, text or email the person back as soon as I am free and always the same day. I do the paper work on a Sunday or in the evening as needed to insure that I am well organized and ready to be present when I do meet clients in person.
I give advice to others I may be reluctant to give to myself or to follow. It is so much easier to make suggestions than it is to follow them. I think that this is true for many of us. Fortunately Grandma Fannie’s reminders are now in the forefront of my mind and, as was true this morning, I am acutely aware when I am focusing on what others are doing rather than what I am doing.
I do, of course, need to make sure that I am following the advice that I give to others or, if I do not think the advice is that relevant to me, I need to just shut up. Either the advice is good for all of us or it is not good or relevant for any of us.
Grandma Fannie delivered the same advise by suggesting that if one is pointing a finger at someone else than four fingers are pointing back at oneself. I believe this. Yet, I consistently notice myself patting myself on the back because I have not done what person X is doing. The current political climate seems to be ripe for judging others. It also seems as if there is always someone who will quickly point out the “sins of commission or omission” of the “other”. Although my “sin de jour” may be different than that of some others, all my behavior affects others in a positive or negative manner.
Judging others is, for me, much different than the commitment to hold each other accountable. I will address this issue in another blog.
For today, I want to make sure that Grandma Fannie’s voice remains clear in my mind. Noticing when I am the pot calling the kettle black or when 4 fingers are pointing back at me may not always be comfortable, but as my friend Becky’s reminded me just this morning, if I am not frequently uncomfortable I am probably not growing. If I am not going forward in my growth I am going backwards.
Reminding myself to laugh with myself while holding myself accountable is another piece of this ongoing spiritual journey. It is easy to forget that it is safe to own my own humanness while not using my humanness as an excuse to judge or mistreat others. After all, the entire world knows that I am human.
Thanks again Grandma Fannie.
Written November 27, 2017
I was visiting with a good friend early this morning via email and “found myself,” suggesting that he take better care of himself by not working on Sunday. As soon as I typed that sentence Grandma Fannie made a cameo appearance and suggested that “the pot was calling the kettle black.” I also do work on Sunday and every other day of the week. I have a commitment to my clients to be available as needed except for the time I am with another client, attending a symphony performance or otherwise committed. I will call, text or email the person back as soon as I am free and always the same day. I do the paper work on a Sunday or in the evening as needed to insure that I am well organized and ready to be present when I do meet clients in person.
I give advice to others I may be reluctant to give to myself or to follow. It is so much easier to make suggestions than it is to follow them. I think that this is true for many of us. Fortunately Grandma Fannie’s reminders are now in the forefront of my mind and, as was true this morning, I am acutely aware when I am focusing on what others are doing rather than what I am doing.
I do, of course, need to make sure that I am following the advice that I give to others or, if I do not think the advice is that relevant to me, I need to just shut up. Either the advice is good for all of us or it is not good or relevant for any of us.
Grandma Fannie delivered the same advise by suggesting that if one is pointing a finger at someone else than four fingers are pointing back at oneself. I believe this. Yet, I consistently notice myself patting myself on the back because I have not done what person X is doing. The current political climate seems to be ripe for judging others. It also seems as if there is always someone who will quickly point out the “sins of commission or omission” of the “other”. Although my “sin de jour” may be different than that of some others, all my behavior affects others in a positive or negative manner.
Judging others is, for me, much different than the commitment to hold each other accountable. I will address this issue in another blog.
For today, I want to make sure that Grandma Fannie’s voice remains clear in my mind. Noticing when I am the pot calling the kettle black or when 4 fingers are pointing back at me may not always be comfortable, but as my friend Becky’s reminded me just this morning, if I am not frequently uncomfortable I am probably not growing. If I am not going forward in my growth I am going backwards.
Reminding myself to laugh with myself while holding myself accountable is another piece of this ongoing spiritual journey. It is easy to forget that it is safe to own my own humanness while not using my humanness as an excuse to judge or mistreat others. After all, the entire world knows that I am human.
Thanks again Grandma Fannie.
Written November 27, 2017
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