
Have you ever just sat and watched people? Sometimes, in the mall or places like Disneyland, I sit back and relax—and just watch people. I find people’s behavior interesting. In fact, we can learn a lot of from people just by the way they act. Call it strange, but I went to school to understand the science of human behavior and I do it every day in my professional occupation. I guess you can call me a “Professional Weirdo.”
Behavioral observation is a widely used method of behavioral assessment. Behavioral observation involves watching the behavior of a person in typical environment. But, consider the context of behavior from a different perspective.
Consider the idea that our lives speak volumes that our mouths often do not utter.
In other words, we tend to teach others about our lives by the way we LIVE, and NOT by what WE SAY.
BUT still, people feel the need to speak their mind. During this time of social change, we see that people are not short of opinions. I am mostly amused because people become very critical of things happening in (for example) politics, culture, church, or community—but often times, dismiss the same critical perspective as it pertains to their own lives.
Scripture teaches us that there is a consequence to having opinions. The scripture implies that if we choose to criticize, criticism is inherently reciprocated. (Matthew 7:1).
This is hard to hear, because no one likes to figuratively look in the mirror at themselves. But whether we want to acknowledge it or not, most of the time when we criticize others, we tend to validate or invalidate what we say, or what we believe, by the lives that we live.
I often observe “people who are the most critical, have zero credentials to validate such criticism.”
I have said it a million times that we must be careful to judge others, because hypocrisy is inherent in ethics. I often ask myself–are we are in any position to make such judgements? In fact, some philosophers say that “your judgement defines you…” In other words, our criticism may speak more about who we are, rather than what we judge. For that reason, maybe our criticism is just best kept to ourselves, because true validation is exposed by our own lives.
And that’s harsh!
OR
Maybe we can choose the road of humility, and begin to live the change that we want to see, treating people with love, respect, compassion, and grace. Perhaps, it is more productive to live our desires in a practical way.
Take food to a sick person.
Donate money to a local charity.
Visit a convalescent home and ask about their companionship hours.
Volunteer time to a local foster family agency.
Call someone you have not spoken to, and apologize to them, even if you are not wrong.
Do something, other than just talk.
Do something, other than just give your opinion.
Let your life speak.
And do it in God’s love.