The Log in My Eye

Recently, I had a bout of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. BPPV is “the sudden sensation that you’re spinning, or that the inside of your head is spinning. BPPV causes brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness. It is usually triggered by specific changes in your head’s position. This might occur when you tip your head up or down, when you lie down, or when you turn over or sit up in bed,” https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vertigo/symptoms-causes/syc-20370055

I’ve had BPPV several times in the past. The first time, 15 years ago, was the most frightening. I had just woken up, and moved my head slightly on the pillow. Wow! The world went round! I thought maybe I was having a stroke. My husband called an ambulance. This time, five years since my last episode, was much milder. I had a day’s warning with some dizziness when bending. Then, when I went to bed, the full-on spinning sensation was present. Time to call a vestibular physiotherapist for an urgent appointment.

It got me thinking about life, and my priorities. When everything is going along as expected, things can become ho-hum. Perhaps an issue, or a difficult personal relationship, arises that disturbs our comfort level, and like a pesky mosquito, we swat it away or try to ignore it. Or perhaps the issue bothers us more, and we grumble and complain to other people. Or perhaps we verbally attack the person whom we see as the cause of our discomfort. We might go all-out to discredit them and crush their opposition. Perhaps we justify our actions. After all, they are just ignorant, deluded, stupid, uneducated, uninformed… And they are threatening my well-being, which they have no right to do! Why can’t they just leave things as they are, let sleeping dogs lie, and not stir up trouble about things that really don’t matter anyway.

When BPPV struck, my world went upside down, literally. I couldn’t focus on anything except staying stable without falling over. Like with many physical illnesses, it was painfully obvious that I needed help. When our world is messed up with broken relationships, and difficult issues, we may not see that we need help. We may think our problems are caused by the other person. The solution seems easy if THEY would just change, or move away, or get over themselves. Then I could get on with doing what I want to do.

The Bible tells us to be careful in how we judge others.

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.

Matthew 7: 3-5 (NIV)

It is very easy for me to see the sins of other people, but very difficult for me to see my own sins. I seem to be spiritually blind to my own sins, but very aware when you are guilty of the same sins. And then, when my sins are pointed out, I am quick to justify myself – I couldn’t help it; I’m only human; they made me do it; I’m not as bad as they are; I am just trying to do my job.

God tells us to help each other to see our sins. But we are to be gentle, speaking the truth in love, and first getting the log out of our own eye.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.  Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.

Galatians 6:1-5 (NIV)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for medical science, and people who can diagnose and treat physical illness. Forgive me for justifying my spiritual illness rather than going to You in repentance and to seek healing. Thank you for your Word, that convicts me of my sin, and tells me that Jesus has died to pay for my sin. Forgive me for pretending that I am spiritually superior to other people. Forgive me for not pointing others to you, the One who is judge of all.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

How do you cope with physical ailments?

How do you cope with conflict?

What does “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye,” mean to you?