Perspective
(for someone who’s their own worst critic)
Perspective can create problems. Or it can solve them.
A healthy perspective on our mistakes and our weaknesses is empowering. Seeing where things aren’t working is important and helpful. If we have a clear view of where we’re falling short, then we’ve got a hard target. Then we can do something about it.
But there’s a big difference between seeing our flaws and being our flaws.
Too many of us have been told – not that we failed – but that we’re failures.
Maybe it was by someone well-intentioned who didn’t know how to give constructive criticism.
Maybe it was by someone who was hurting. Who decided to drag you down, so they could try make themselves feel better. By making you feel worse.
Maybe you think you’ve messed up too many times to be anything other than stuck on the outside looking in.
Wherever that message of being our mistakes and weaknesses came from, of seeing ourselves as our failures, it’s just toxic. And it’s not true.
If you want the truth, look at how God sees you. Today’s first reading makes that clear, by showing us God’s perspective.
God doesn’t see you as the sum of your mistakes and weakness.
God doesn’t see you as someone on the outside looking in.
God sees you as who you really are. A member of the household of God. Part of the family.
You are His beloved child.
Whenever anyone tries to tell you different. Even if that’s you. Don’t buy it.
Hold on to God’s perspective.
Remind yourself, in the words of Pope John Paul II, “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures.”
“We are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.”
Today’s Readings
