The Sojourner's Flaw

Life often teaches us through unexpected encounters. As I waited for the car to pick me up, a woman rode up on her scooty with her baby girl perched behind her. She asked where I was headed alone, and I explained that I was on my way to pick up two men of God.

The woman, taken aback by my courage, praised me in front of her daughter. "Be brave like her," she said. But then added, "No, don't be like her. Be a supreme judge when you grow up." She rode off, leaving me with mixed emotions.

I smiled warmly as she departed, but inside, I felt insulted. I thought, "One day I'll be greater than her." Reflecting on this encounter, I gained valuable insights.

Firstly, I realized that if I were a mother, I would have done the same – encouraged my daughter to strive for greatness. This understanding helped me let go of my initial hurt.

Secondly, I recognized the woman's misunderstanding of serving God. Picking up the two men of God was not just a task, but a sacred service to me.

Reflecting further, I saw that my own response was flawed. My thought, "One day I'll be greater than her," was rooted in pride and self-righteousness.

Even as I wrote this reflection, I caught myself focusing on her mistakes first rather than my own. I remembered the words of Matthew 7:3-5:

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Through this experience, I learned that true humility starts with self-reflection and understanding one's own flaws before judging others.