by Regina Hill

Created on: February 25, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

Dictionary Definitions:
Hypocrite - a person who is given to hypocrisy
Hypocrisy - the practice of claiming to higher standards or beliefs than is the case

The longer I live and the more I learn about people, the more certain I am that each one of us could use a good long look in the mirror at our own reflections. While in our claims, we describe our personal ideas and viewpoints, our integrity - as completely above reproach, I believe the exact opposite is often more honest and true to self-scrutiny. It's a lot easier to stand above the crowd and point out their faults and flaws - as I've personally seen so many people do - than to look into your own heart and soul with a sincere attempt at seeing what is secreted there.

Even the Bible, old and worn from so many years of exercise, approaches this human phenomena with it's verse about seeing the beam in your own eye before attempting to retract the mote from your brother's eye. I love this verse because of it's infinite wisdom and find myself relating wholly to the idea behind the words. I have been on both sides of the fence and come away assured of the fact that I will forever be working on extracting that "beam" from my own eye.

{Matthew 7:3} Dictionary Definitions: * mote - a speck *beam - a long piece of timber

I do it all the time so I am not placing blame on anyone else's shoulders when I say this... We all love to take the "easy" way out. Blame someone else for our own failures and defeats, seek out a reasonable source - a parent, a spouse, a child - someone, ANYONE, who has previously hurt us with words or deeds... Anyone to place the blame for our own faults, flaws and failures. It's so much easier to simply ignore conscious' knowledge, which is sure to force you into claiming the blame for your own failings and errors in judgement, than it is to turn your gaze in your own direction and extract your own demons'. It's easier to blame someone else, but - in my personal opinion - not even close to healthier.

This is the place where I would like to say - Oh, I've never been a hypocrite. I've never blamed others for my own mistakes or errors. I've always taken complete responsibility for my own faults and flaws, my own lack of insight and understanding, my own "beam". Then, I would be sharing the hypocritical viewpoint to the fullest of my ability. That would most definitely make me into a hypocrite and a liar of the worst sort.

I have no qualms whatsoever in laying claim to the certainty that I have been WRONG

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