Daily Meditation: Friday, February 18, 2011

Criticism - is only justified if it is like the art of gardening

02/18/2011

Why do people tend to point up the faults of others? Why torment men and women who are struggling in the midst of so many difficulties? The strangest thing is that in criticizing others, people think they are proving their own insightfulness, wisdom and even love. You will object that those who spare the rod spoil the child, as the saying goes, and that chastising begins with criticism. No, in many cases, love does not involve criticizing, and nor does wisdom. To love others is to understand their difficulties and act sensitively to alleviate their suffering, while criticism tends rather to graze, scratch and wound. It is no longer love but carnage. True love is not stained with blood; it is great and luminous. Through it you connect to God, and God advises you on the best ways to deal with others. What is good criticism? It is like the work of a good gardener, who knows how to cut the trees, prune them, straighten them and rid them of caterpillars and harmful insects. A good gardener preserves what is good, and soon magnificent flowers and fruit appear.