When I moved to South Carolina I discovered that wherever you went, people identified with one of the two rival football teams.  Either you were for the USC Gamecocks or the Clemson Tigers.

In truth, I am not a big fan of football, in much the same way that cats are not fans of non-Euclidian geometry.  I don’t follow it; I barely understand it.  The Bills inoculated me against the false hope of backing a winning team.  And yet I felt compelled to choose a team to identify with.  I chose Clemson because I really liked their logo.  Pretty lame, I admit, but isn’t  it a neat logo?

There are all kinds of team loyalties, aren’t there?  Politically, the country is divided pretty sharply between red and blue teams.  People divide over ethnicities and national identity, even gender.  It seems to be something we do naturally as humans.  We form tribes. 

I’ve noticed that when I identify with my ‘tribe’ I can pretty easily see the hypocrisy of the other guys and I can identify their misdeeds and bad faith arguments, but I don’t notice the faults of the folks in my tribe unless I make an effort to look.  So I have begun to make the effort.

What I’ve discovered is that every time I get ticked off about the misbehavior of others, when I stop a second and think, I have to confess:  “me too.”  “I can do that.”  “I’ve had those attitudes.”  “I’ve been that guy.”  It’s not just the other folks who are blockheads or dishonest or mean.  Me too.

Jesus didn’t want those of us on “team Jesus” to look down on others or, worse yet, imagine that we’re faultless.  In Matthew 7:3, Jesus reminds us that when you notice a human failing in others, you should be quick to remind yourself:  “me too.”

Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 

Prayer:Gracious God, forgive me for blindly criticizing people outside my ‘tribe.’  Grant me the clarity of vision to see my own sins and the grace to turn from them and to turn my gaze on you.  Amen.