Two CCCA members share their thoughts on processing critiques
Dan
A word of praise can quickly be forgotten, but a critical comment can be replayed in your mind for years! Criticism has the power to distract, preoccupy and keep you awake at night. Sometimes criticism comes gently, spoken
with genuine love and concern — the epitome of, “This hurts me more than it hurts you.” Other times it is delivered harshly and in anger. Regardless, criticism has the power to build you up or tear you down. Knowing that I will receive criticism, I must
bear in mind that criticism now may keep me from failure later. Proverbs 15:31–33 (NLT) says, “If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject disci- pline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.” I remind myself that there may be truth, even
in criticism, that feels unjustified. My spiritual mentor taught me a valuable lesson: “I could be wrong.” Tat is an important principle to remem- ber whether I’m receiving or delivering criticism. Even when criticism is spoken in anger, I try
not to judge the heart of the person speaking it. I need to assume they have the best of motiva- tions. I need to hear what I’m being told. Then, whether I agree or not, take it to the Lord, ask- ing Him to reveal any truth that may be hidden in the words that are hard to hear. When I’ve received criticism that seems
unjust, I try to respond with, “I can’t say that I agree with what you’re saying, but I really will pray about it and ask God to show me the truth.” Jesus told His disciples in John 16:13 (NLT), “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” I hold Him to His word and ask Him to make plain any truth I need to hear in the criticism.
The Spirit often
reveals that truth when I share the criticism with a trusted friend or mentor. I ask them to honestly assess if there is any truth in what I’ve been told. Tough I’d like
“Knowing that I will
receive criticism, I must bear in mind that
to think that I am more oſten right than wrong and that peo- ple generally like me, the reality is that the only opinion of me that truly matters is God’s. So, I make it a point to seek His perspective on any criticism I receive.
criticism now may keep me from failure later.” —Dan Faulkner
Dan Faulkner serves as executive director of Camp Elim in Woodland Park, Colorado. He has served 48 years, 15 as volunteer and 33 as director. He now serves as the southwest region representative on the CCCA board. Dan and his wife, Teri, enjoy family time, travel, theater and riding e-bikes.
May/June 2024
www.ccca.org 49
Photo courtesy of Dan Faulkner
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