Everyone Is A Critic… Hello weekend readers. Two of my favorite sports in March are Arizona’s Cactus League Spring Training, and March Madness college basketball. It’s fun to see new baseball players trying their first times in the big leagues. And the craziness of March Madness is wild, the under-dogs beat the big guys, etc. So what am I musing on then, the darn CRITICS!

It seems in these last few years the commentators for all kinds of sports are vying for “top critic.” I call them the “talking heads” because they ramble on, banter back and forth with their critiques instead of uplifting the players for their abilities. And that reminded me of a story about Babe Ruth. I’m going to share this short story because it has a deep lesson on what can happen when we decide to be’ the critic’…

Babe Ruth was nearing the end of one of his last full major league games. It was the Braves against the Reds in Cincinnati. The great Ruth was no longer as agile as he had once been. He fumbled the ball and threw badly. In one inning alone his errors were responsible for most of the five runs scored by Cincinnati. He just couldn’t muster anything good for his team. As Babe walked off the field after the third out and headed toward the dugout, a crescendo of yelling, cursing and booing reached his ears. His face showed his defeat in so many ways.

But, just then a boy jumped over the railing and onto the playing field. With tears streaming down his face, he threw his arms around the legs of his baseball hero. You might think Babe would have told the kid to go away, but instead, the Babe didn’t hesitate for one second. He picked up the boy, hugged him, and set him down on his feet, patting his head gently. The noise from the stands came to an abrupt halt and an eerie hush fell over the entire park. Both had melted the hearts of the crowd who had decided to be the critics that day.

In Matthew 5:11-12 [MSG], Jesus reminds us that critics, insults, etc., are part of life, saying: “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even! For though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.”

Richard Pryor said “I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, I wanna’ grow up and be a critic.” He’s right—it isn’t something we want to be yet everyone can be a critic and everyone has critics! Kevin Offner, Mayo therapist & pastor says: “There’s something very damaging about a critical spirit. Over time, when left unchecked, it prevents one from seeing and appreciating all that’s truly good in the world, all that God is actively doing. the critical person comes to expect—even, dare I say, to hope—that everything will have something wrong with it. One’s very identity actually begins to be marked by this need for negativity. But critical people aren’t only hurting themselves; they are also affecting others as well.”

Let’s remember what is at the root of a critical spirit; it’s when we are walking in the flesh, and not walking with the Holy Spirit; that is when we develop the root of a critical spirit. Rather than drawing upon the Lord for strength and perspective, the critic relies upon their own resources. So how do we calm down the critics and ourselves as well? By showing love, stand your ground but be kind—no anger. Instead, calmly speak encouraging words. It’s amazing how showing love has the ability to calm criticism. The love is from God and God’s power will be in your words. Now you have a slam dunk and a home run! AMEN.