Get Over It

I have a degree in Visual Communications. It was hard earned, many a late night were spent in dark rooms and numerous outpourings of the heart and mind submitted to scathing critiques. One I remember above all the others. We were laying our photographs out and critiquing the work as a class. I laid my work, these images that had been labored in the mind and dark room, on the table so proud of what I'd accomplished. My professor looked at me and informed me that the images needed to be burned (burning and dodging are techniques in which more or less light is applied to the photo paper) I asked him for about how long he thought I should burn them. To which he responded "No I mean you should literally burn these, set them on fire." I couldn't believe it, I was crushed. I thought I had really come up with something cool. 

There were two paths I could take from here. I could redo the work or I could throw my hands in the air and say this isn't for me. I had seen it done several times. Students drop out of the course or fail a class cause they couldn't get over the criticism. They took a personal offense for their work, and couldn't get past it. 

Offense...maybe one of the most dangerous feelings we can have. Marriages burned to the ground, friendships disassembled, callings abandoned all out of a spirt of offense left unchecked. If we inspect our hearts its usually because we've made an idol out of a thing that we refuse to submit to God. Be it our identity, our money, whatever. 

I have zero proof or biblical support for this, but I really believe it was a spirit of offense that gave Satan a foothold in Judas' life. Maybe Jesus called him on the way he lusted after Mary Magdeline or the way he handled his money, I'm not sure, but I'd be willing to bet offense played a part. 

I choose that afternoon, with teeth clinched tight, to receive the critique and use it as fuel and a tool to be better. My work got better and, because I told my flesh to take a backseat, I got stronger and a little more humble. Only a little though, we all need something to work on. 

So get over it, get over yourself. Fight offense, battle it with humility and submission. It is a thief that will rob you blind if you let it. Don't let it.