Jesus, Gandhi, and Michael Jackson

When I was 14 I went with a couple of girlfriends to see the Jackson’s Triumph Tour at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. Michael had recently gone solo and had released his “Off the Wall” album in 1979 (pre Thriller), featuring his hit song, “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough.” A song that is impossible for me to sit still through, from the moment I hear the first note. I had followed Michael’s career from his early days with his brothers and still tear up when I hear him sing “I’ll Be There.”

My most favorite Michael Jackson song of all time was released in 1987, titled “Man in the Mirror.” The lyrics have resonated with me since it’s release:

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British ruled India; was born on October 2, 1869. He was best known as ‘Mahatma’ Gandhi. ‘Mahatma’ means ‘Great Soul.’ Although this civil rights activist for South Africa was assassinated on January 30, 1948, his most famous quote continues to be as relevant today as the day he first spoke the words:

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

I am a Christ follower. I am imperfect, and flawed, but I am an open, honest, struggling, follower of Jesus Christ. The words of Jesus are important to me. I find it very interesting when I hear His words or His message being repeated in the words and messages of men and women throughout our history.

Like Michael Jackson and Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus shared a message about looking inward as a way to change the world. Or I as I like to tell the children I nanny for frequently, “worry about yourself.” We have a tendency to look at the faults and flaws of others and make suggestions or recommendations of how “they” can be better people, make better choices, or do things better. Or worse, we rant and rave about “them,” and point fingers of blame.

Jesus’ parable in Matthew 7, beginning in verse 3 goes like this:

Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Have you ever stopped to think what the world would look like if each of us spent more time “worrying about ourselves?” I’m not saying that in the sense that ‘I’m going to take care of me and mine.’ Nor am I saying we shouldn’t take care of the needs of others. Quite the contrary, I’m saying it from the context of Jesus’ parable. If we simply spent more time on the ‘man in the mirror,’ the world might truly be a better place.

Many years ago I worked for a boss I didn’t like. I focused on her flaws, mistakes, communication issues, etc. It wasn’t my fault; I was great at my job, why should I change to her way of thinking when I was already successful. Wow! That major log or plank growing from my eye prevented me from having a positive relationship with my boss. I was too busy focusing on the speck in her eye, that I couldn’t see that the reason we were butting heads was that I was constantly hitting her with my ‘plank!’ While I no longer work for this particular boss, I assure you many lessons were learned during in that season.

The year 2013 was a milestone year in my life; my husband and I went through a major transformation in our marriage. I dare say the primary factor in this miraculous change had to do with our focus. Our focus shifted from each other’s ‘specks’ (the faults, problems or issues we had with each other), to working on our own ‘planks,’ or character defects. Our simple (not easy mind you) shift of focus towards God, asking His help in showing us our own flaws made all the difference in our world.

In this season, following an election that has generated so much controversy, conflict, and blame; I want to challenge you to change the world! Change your relationships, change your focus, and change your world. Start with that “man in the mirror.” “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

In Celebrate Recovery, we would refer to Steps 6 and 7:

Step 6: We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” - James 4:10

Step 7: We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9

You may have spent so much time pointing out the ‘speck’ in everyone else’s eye, that you hardly notice the ‘plank’ or ‘log’ in your own eye. I challenge you to examine yourself. Do you struggle with anger, anxiety, close mindedness, control, fear, gluttony, humility, impatience, intolerance, jealousy, perfectionism, prejudice, resentment…the list could literally go on and on. Chose one, just one character defect or ‘plank’ that you and the ‘man (or woman) in the mirror’ could start working on right now. If your world becomes a better place, OUR world will become a better place.

Go now, and “worry about yourself” and “be the change!” Together, we can make this world a better place.