When we get in heated arguments with people, we’re often less than charitable. Many times, backed into a corner, we pull out whatever “weapons” we can find in our vocabulary. What we say to them may not even be true, but it, sickly, makes us feel good.

There’s a popular phrase these days we like using to belittle people: “It’s because of people like you that I…” Translated: I think you’re so crappy that I decided not to do the thing that you do. Brutal! And it’s brutal because most of us are trying really hard at life. We may be screwing things up big time, but we’re trying. Though adults by age, we’re like uncoordinated toddlers trying to skateboard. We’d be better served by a more humble assessment of our own life. We all believe things that make sense to us and try to live it out the best we can.

When we disagree with other people, it’s rare for us to try and really see where they’re coming from. We feel superior when we put them down. But that’s not the reality.

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.
_Proverbs 18:2

If we can’t listen to others’ viewpoints without belittling judgments, we’re not awesome or learned. We’re fools.

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