How About That Person in the Mirror?

Lately, it seems the air is filled with self righteous finger pointing. It seems that all these attacks, if successful, would benefit the finger pointer and his followers at the expense of someone else. I am tired. How about we try something different? Let’s look at that person in the mirror and ask ourselves, “What can I do today to make myself a better person and the world a better place?” It doesn’t have to be all that much, but do something. Make a start.

How about my body? If I think the cost of medical care is excessive, what can I do to lower the burden on our health care system? Can I find a way to eat a healthier diet? Can I undertake and exercise program? Maybe I could drink one less beer this evening?

How about my heart? Looking deeply and honestly into my motivations can be less than pretty. How much gratitude is down in there? How about forgiveness? Can I find a way to make an enemy my friend? Are my goals in line with my understanding of God and my faith? Do I have a generous heart? It doesn’t have to be all that much; you could leave a 20% tip for that waitress schlepping your food on what is obviously a bad hair day.

Do you need to improve your finances? I had to ask that one. After all, this is a personal finance blog. I would also add that improving your relationship with money can put you in a position to do more good in this material world. Maybe you could find a way to work a little harder, a little longer, or a little smarter. All of these options are likely to put a little more money in your pocket. Can you find a way to spend a little less on things that cost you money, like cable TV and a little more on things that pay you money, like stock in a cable TV company?

If we could all spend a little more time finding ways to produce a better crop in our own garden and a little less time chest thumping and trumpeting our moral and intellectual superiority this world might be a happier place.

I don’t know about you, but I still have some work to do with that guy in the mirror.

Matthew 7: 1-5

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“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? How 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? You 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.