Pointing Fingers

Only moments after waking up this morning, I was startled this morning by a most repulsive experience. I had just put in my contacts – I am nearly blind without them – and my eyes were greeted by the disgusting sight of a pile of fingernail clippings on the bathroom counter. What kind of miscreant would do such a thing?!? I mean, leaving an empty roll of toilet paper is one thing, but this was a whole other level of barbaric behavior.

What kind of animal does something like that?!? Was it one of my kids? Could it have been my lovely wife? Ah, maybe it was one of our uncivilized guests from the night before!

As I pondered the repulsive behavior – and as self-righteous desire for justice welled up inside of me – my half-asleep brain started putting the pieces together and I came to a horrifying realization: it was me! I had clipped my fingernails the previous afternoon, and as the self-grooming momentum built, I decided to take a pass at my toenails as well. I was accomplishing so much!

In the dopamine-fueled rush of accomplishment, I had forgotten to clean up my mess (I did clean up the toenail clippings though, quit judging). I felt shame as I wiped down the counter and realized all that righteous indignation and disgust was now directed at me!

As I cleaned up after my disgusting self, I was reminded how often we are so quick to pass blame and search out a culprit before acknowledging our own responsibility. We can so easily jump right into victim mode as we seek to identify those who have wronged us.

Blame-shifting is a slippery slope of disempowerment. And rarely will our lives meaningfully improve until we quit pointing fingers and recognize our own role within the messes of our lives. The words of Matthew 7:5 underscore that point: "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Embarrassingly, I was that hypocrite this morning ☹

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