Do you see something wrong with your neighbor?
Are you ruminating about the shortcomings of a family member or co-worker, judging them, condemning them because of complaints you have against them, and telling them how they need to change?
Jesus Christ has some sobering words for the person who indulges in self-righteous criticism and judgment. He says,
“Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your
own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of
that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?
“Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5, NLT).
Fair enough. We all have room for improvement! It’s easy to see what is wrong in our neighbor’s thinking, but often it’s not so easy to see what is wrong in our own thinking that needs reformation. Humility helps.
Judge less and love more. That helps everyone involved.
I find this hymn of Mrs. Eddy’s really helpful, and
use it constantly when there seems to be a problem arising
Brood o’er us with Thy shelt’ring wing, / ’Neath which our spirits blend / Like brother birds, that soar and sing, / And on the same branch bend. / The arrow that doth wound the dove / Darts not from those who watch and love.
If thou the bending reed wouldst break / By thought or word unkind, / Pray that his spirit you partake, / Who loved and healed mankind: / Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain, / That make men one in love remain.
Learn, too, that wisdom’s rod is given / For faith to kiss, and know; / That greetings glorious from high heaven, / Whence joys supernal flow, / Come from that Love, divinely near, / Which chastens pride and earth-born fear,
Through God, who gave that word of might / Which swelled creation’s lay: / “Let there be light, and there was light.” / What chased the clouds away? / ’Twas Love whose finger traced aloud / A bow of promise on the cloud.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 30:1–4)
Oh Maggie…I love these words too. Thank you for writing them out here today.Bx
Thank you Evan….’’judge less and love more’’ Perfect message , not just for oneself. but for the world.❣️
Thank you, Evan!
Such a needed admonition, Evan. Thank you very much. Mortal mind is so sly — like a snake in the grass — as it attempts to sneak its hateful thoughts into our view. Your SpiritView is a great reminder for us to “stand porter at the door of thought.”
But, when I do it, it’s under the cloak of “See how much I care?” or when I’m giving unsolicited advice to someone who is married when I’ve always been single, or to someone with any challenge I’ve never experienced. Jesus instructed us to “Work out your own salvation.” Phillipines 2:12
Oftentimes we think we can make someone else change through our advice rather than our example.
In the article “Uninterrupted Continuity of Good”, I read “Knowing that God, Principle, is the only lawgiver, we see that error is without law. , thus without power of enforcement, intelligence to develop, or ability to persist. This is helpful to know of any phase of evil.”
I have begun practicing letting others be who they are through the simple meditation “Let go and Let God ” each time I am tempted to point out, if only in thought, their shortcomings. It puts me back in line with One Mind and boy, has It has been eye-opening in a most insightful way.
Yes agreed Bob, “sly like a snake in the grass, attempting to sneak hateful thoughts into our view.”
A seeming issue with our landlord appearing to be reluctant to do some repairs left us feeling a sense of hurt and lack and thinking unkind things about them. But I refuse to go there. I need to see that God is taking care of us AND them, everyone’s needs are met, we all reflect good. We are not on opposing sides, there is nothing to prevent right action from unfolding.
Also the beautiful hymn 527 came to mind when I saw our topic on clearing our view/opening our eyes. It says in part:
“Lord open my eyes that I may see, Your presence everywhere.
For You with me are greater far, than all the seeming evils are,
Be still O heart and trust, God’s omnipresent power.”
-Words here:
https://media.csps.com/gp/2020_branch_services/hymns_pdf/hymn_527-christian_science_hymnal.pdf?download=true
-Vocals here:
https://www.christianscience.com/additional-resources/churches-societies-and-groups/resources-for-hybrid-services-and-activities/music-for-branch-church-services/hymns-500-601
Simple truths are always so potent!
Thanks for sharing this today Evan!
“Tending our own thought—not our neighbor’s” By Patti Faulkner. From the August 18, 2025 issue of The Christian Science Sentinel:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/133bkdjr454?s=copylink
Thank you all for this “thought for the day”. A lovely message.
Sometimes when we are trying to get others to see our viewpoint, we may
come across as being unreceptive to their needs, or uncaring, or holier-than-thou.
Imho, our honest, genuine love for another may be misconstrued as being
arrogant or butting in to their way of thinking. We may have tried to get our
message across by example, only to find another digging in more.
The message I get from today’s topic is – that we are not the ones in charge
of other’s thinking or actions and we all need to “work out our own salvation”.
Our good intentions may Seem to be other than what they appear, but patience
(sometimes a Lot of patience) is what is needed to see ourselves as well as others,
as God’s perfect child and this revelation always brings about harmony and peace,
brought about by God’s Love and not our own interpretations, no matter how
well intentioned they may be.
Thank you Angel – I agree with all you say, and
I have found it very helpful to find articles
about letting God govern. Here is an example
from one of them – an article by Ida Lucke Wilbur called “The Wheat and the Tares”
Our Leader counsels (Ibid., p. 542), “Let Truth uncover and destroy error in God’s own way, and let human justice pattern the divine.” Ceasing to outline how good shall be manifested and willingly letting God’s will govern all one’s thinking releases one from a false sense of responsibility and opens the way for divine guidance. In the meantime, whatever compels one strictly to mind his own business and control his own thoughts is a great blessing.`”
AMEN, THANKYOU EVAN and All , very insightful Love to all