Snobs
I posted a blog about Susan Boyle a while back and pondered the question as what would have happened had she been just okay or not very good. I said some things in that post that haven’t sat well with me and I’ve since felt the need to change my tune.
More specifically, I wrote about snobby people and the snobby girl in the video at 1:24. My exact words were “I look down upon that girl almost as much as she looked down upon Susan.” Along that same line, the post had an underlying theme of getting back at jerks.
While snobby people hit on a nerve that angers me more than just about anything else, my words reflected a heart that was not in the right place.
A quote by Frederick Buechner sums it up well:
Snobs are people who look down on other people, but that does not justify our looking down on them. Who can say what dark fears of being inferior lurk behind their superior airs or what they suffer in private for the slights they dish out in public.
Don’t look down on them for looking down on us. Look at them, instead, as friends we don’t know yet and who don’t yet know what they are missing in not knowing us.
Here is one another quote that has some things to say about conceit and how to deal with conceited people:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse… Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:14-21
This is an area that only the grace of God can help me with. A place where I have a long way to grow.
Category: Musings
very well said Mark.
Gotta tell you, Mark, I saw the title of that original post and immediately created a writing assignment for my students called “Why are we so awful to one another?” I was inspired.
But I have to admit I never did read the actual post. I saw it in the headlines of my RSS reader in a busy moment and never got around to digging it up when it wasn’t in the headlines anymore. So despite the comments that don’t sit well with you, your original comment ignited a moment where I could attempt to shine something brighter into my students’ world (or at least attempt to do so). http://vimeo.com/5433788
Also I thought you might appreciate this post, on a similar topic.
.-= Geoff´s last blog ..We teach them obedience for their sake, not ours =-.
Thanks for the comment Geoff. I really enjoyed all of the links you provided. The blog about the author and reviewer going back and forth was particularly fascinating. Great to hear from you (as always).