Early in my military career, I managed a program responsible for the care of military members who worked on or around nuclear weapons. My office was responsible for ensuring those members were medically reliable. Back then, I was stationed in Shreveport, Louisiana, and as my tour there was coming to an end, we received an assignment to California. Approximately two to three months prior to my departure, I was responsible for training my replacement. I will never forget the moment during our training session when the young lady/trainee told me, very respectfully, yet, matter-of-fact, that I was territorial. She perceived as we trained that I was possessive over the program that I was soon to release. Ugh… I didn’t like that word, especially attached to me! My initial response was, “Who, me? I’m not territorial.” Throughout the day, I thought about her statement and came up with every excuse to why her perception was off … but when I really began to pull back the layers of my heart, I discovered that she was right. Although it had never been verbally ascribed to my character by those closest to me, neither was it on my personal radar before that moment … her assessment held true --- it was a blind spot.
Until this day, I am very grateful for this young lady and her honesty because she pointed out my blind spot…and now it is forever on my radar. I’ve learned one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is an honest self-examination. Especially, in times like these when divisiveness is running rampant in our nation and everyone is exclaiming their own righteousness, leaving friendships and families in tatters, of which, God is not pleased. Friend, there is power and strength in acknowledging blind spots and simply being humble. As a matter of fact, the Bible says that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to a humble person. He even considers a person whose able to rule his spirit better than someone who conquers a city. When was the last time you checked for blind spots?
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6 ESV
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Provers 16:32 ESV
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