two voices by Zoei Starnes and Dan Faulkner Handling Criticism Zoei
When it comes to receiving external criticism, I tend to first ask myself what the person is try- ing to convey. Is what they are saying hard to
hear, but something I can grow and learn from? Or are they simply just trying to be hurtful? If it’s the former, then I try not to take the
“It’s a challenge to
keep the words spoken from turning into
something they were not meant to be. ” —Zoei Starnes
criticism to heart, but I heed what was said so I can grow and improve. If it’s the latter, I remind myself of the truths of what God says about me. I try to remember that I don’t know what that person is dealing with, and I don’t dwell on the words. When receiving constructive criticism over
a task or job entrusted to me, it would not behoove me to get offended because someone with more experience is trying to share the wisdom they have gained over the years. Yes, the words may sting for a second, but I need to understand that the critique is not about me, but rather, is aimed at bettering the task at hand. Easy peasy. Not exactly. While both are challenging, handling external
criticism is much easier for me than dealing with internal criticism. It’s a challenge to keep the words spoken from turning into something they were not meant to be. But, sometimes, if I’m not guarding my mind (sometimes even from myself), it can spiral into a self-critical loop. Truthfully, there are quite a few mornings
that I roll out of bed with a self-critical mind. But that is when I must remind myself that words have power. God created the universe with words. He spoke everything into existence. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in
the power of the tongue ….” When we speak to those around us, either close friends or mere acquaintances, are we speaking life or are we helping the enemy to steal, kill and destroy? What about the words we say to ourselves?
Zoei Starnes is the assistant recreation, environmental education and intern coordinator at Caraway Conference Center and Camps (Sophia, North Carolina). She began serving there in the summer of 2022 as the summer camp worship leader. Tat was when the Lord made it very clear that camp ministry was where she was called and Caraway is her home.
48
www.ccca.org May/June 2024
Photo courtesy of Zoei Starnes
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
