Plank Eye

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Now let’s talk about plank eye. No, not pink eye—plank eye.

Jesus taught: Why do you observe the splinter in your brother's eye and never notice the plank in your own? How dare you say to your brother, "Let me take the splinter out of your eye", when all the time there is a plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother's eye.

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In his book, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis explains a primary strategy of the devil.

Speaking to his demonic underlings Satan instructs them to “Aggravate the most useful human characteristics, the horror and neglect of the obvious. You must bring him to a condition in which he can practice self-examination for an hour without discovering any of those facts about himself which are perfectly clear to anyone who has ever lived in the same house with him or worked in the same office.”

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Why is it that we see the sins and character flaws of others so clearly, but we are completely blind to our own?

Because strong emotions take control of us, we stop thinking and that is when we become blind to reality, blind to our own issues.

Thinking should control emotions and decisions, not feelings.

Something triggers one of our dominant vices and this disordered desire becomes inflamed and takes our reason hostage. Then the intellect begins to build a case based on partial truth to justify or rationalize our vice.

You might have a strong sense of right and wrong, then you see something wrong and fly off the handle.

Or you might say, “Hey, it has been such a stressful time, I deserve this glass of scotch or this comfort food.”

Or you might think “If I allow my kids to continue in this behavior they will ruin their life so I need to attack this behavior right now.” And we blow up in anger.

We build an argument based on some partial truth the emotions put before us to justify the action we know deep down is wrong. This is how emotions blind us to our own behavior.

But when it comes to other people we are not blinded by our emotions. So we can see clearly.  

Think of your disordered desires, what might be blinding you in your daily life? What are you too attached to that blinds you?

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The problem with plank eye is that our strong emotions blind us to reality.

So, what is the solution?

Once we recognize strong emotions have control of us I find it most helpful to

I.            Turn immediately to Jesus and Mary and ask for their help. I say “Jesus and Mary, I can’t. You can. I surrender to you.”

II.          Then I must hit pause or get out of the situation and think. Remember, the issue is that our emotions have blurred reality. The purpose of thinking is to grasp reality correctly. So think and get connected to reality. It’s like in the old movies when someone is panicked or paralyzed by fear and another person grabs them, slaps them in the face and they wake up. That is what we need to do to ourselves. Wake up to reality. If you get your thoughts in order then your emotions will fall in line.

III.        Make a resolution not to forget the insight, the correct view of reality and take some action based on reality rather than emotions.

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The problem is that strong emotions take control of our mind and hold it hostage.

For example: many people suffer from paralyzing worry that wakes them at 3 AM.

Worry is a strong emotion that distorts our view of reality and wont let us go.

What is the way out?

Exercise your intellect, think so you can get an accurate view of reality which tells us that 99% of what we worry about never happens.

This gives us insight – a correct view of reality.

Then if there is something to be done – make a plan and go back to bed.

If there is nothing you can do about it – surrender it to God.