Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. Carl Jung
Meditation: Isn’t it amazing? When something irritates me in my spouse or my co-workers, a good chance is that this says more about me than about them. Sometimes I am becoming irritated or judgmental because the other person is my opposite. What they allow themselves to do or say, I would never dream of. Really? Or is the other person just as human as I am? Maybe his flaws just show in a different way than mine? Maybe I am irritated with her just as much as she is irritated with me?… If I stop keeping the other person at arm length, but allow my irritation and explore it, I might learn something about myself. Maybe my parents never allowed me to try something the other person is doing? Maybe the other person is my suppressed “other half”? Maybe I unconsciously envy her and can’t admit that? As I recognize that those things that I am condemning in the other person or in myself are already known and held by God, I can overcome my irritated and judgmental thoughts. God’s Grace and acceptance covers our many opposite ways of being human. And as I become more aware of that, I will learn to understand and accept the other person and myself – just as we are.
Prayer: Gracious God, fill us with Your generosity of heart. Make us curious instead of judgmental when we feel irritated. Let us discover our humanity more deeply. Help us let go of or even rejoice in those things in the other person that before irritated us. We are such a diverse “bunch” of people! Thank You for loving us in all our differences. Help us to be as patient and loving as You are. Amen
In whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God. 1. John 3:20-21
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