An Ode to MJ

I was recently listening to none other than the great Michael Jackson, reminiscing about one of my favorite dances that I have done to his excellent tunage.  And what started as a good memory turned into an epiphany. 

Recently, I have been letting the actions of others get the best of me...getting me all worked up.  It's so frustrating to see someone constantly make the same mistakes over and over again -- will they ever learn?  While listening to the lyrics of MJ's "Man in the Mirror", I discovered the answer to what I had been struggling with most.  Instead of being bothered by or accusing others of their faults, I need to first take inventory of my issues and fix myself.  How can I accuse others if I am just as guilty?  There's nothing like getting a taste of your own medicine.  The one thing you can't stand...and then you catch yourself in the very same act.  This is by far one of the most convicting situations to find yourself in; and if you don't know what I'm talking about, just take my word for it.

Realizing what you're doing wrong is the first step...but what you choose to do with your new incite is even more important.  Many a times, I find myself blaming my "personality" or making excuses for my behaviors; they are just "a part of who I am", and I continue to ignore and make peace with them.  Well I'm here to tell you that this is a boat load of shenanigans.  We have conscious control over our actions -- I have conscious control over my actions.  And if we want to see a change, we need to make a change, starting with ourselves.  Sometimes all we need is to see our actions in someone else to realize how ridiculous we look.  This is not to put down others (I'm not in the burning business) but to learn from them.  And once we can get to the point of humbling ourselves to "I am wrong" and own the idiocy of our own actions, we can help others who may be struggling with the same issues; personal experience speaks louder than you may realize. 

What's encouraging to me is that I don't have to accept defeat because I have been saved by grace.  This phase of my life is only temporary; it will not get the best of me.  And I'll mess up -- because I am human.  But if I am consciously aware of my actions and moving forward for the better, I will begin to see the changes I desire in myself...through Him, by Him, in Him. 

       "I'm gonna make a change for once in my life; it's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right…I'm staring with the man in the mirror; I'm asking him to change his ways.  And no message could have been any clearer: If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change."

-Michael Jackson

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      “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, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

-Luke 6:41-42