My wife and I have enjoyed learning more about different types of temperaments and personalities over the years. We have found different tests to be helpful tools when learning more about ourselves, about one another and about how to better understand and interact with others.
I am an ISTJ on the Myers-Briggs and a 5w6 on the Enneagram. If those mean nothing to you then that’s OK.
I often suffer from analysis paralysis. In a nutshell, I want to have all of the information and plans and backup plans and backups for my backups for everything. It can be exhausting and get out of hand quickly if allowed.
If I am confident on a topic, then you can be sure I’ve studied it thoroughly. Most people think their opinion is correct, and if they knew they were wrong then they would change their opinion. I know my opinion is correct, and everyone else needs to understand my truth/the truth. I’m kind of joking … and also kind of not … my poor wife!
Because of this, I am very good at pointing out flaws in people’s logic or plans. The problem is that I can come off as cold and rude at times.
I would do a great service to myself and others if I looked in the mirror first before offering my input. Or as Jesus said in Matthew 7:5, “Hypocrite, first remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
When problems arise in life, and they will, if the fruit of the Spirit isn’t what comes out then I can guarantee there is a plank in our eye that needs removing.
Part of sharpening ourselves and growing is taking care of ourselves before we take care of others. I’m reminded of when we travel by plane and the safety instructions happen preflight. In case of an emergency, we need to put an oxygen mask on ourselves before we help others with their mask. We can’t help anyone if we are passed out from lack of oxygen.
The same goes for picking out and picking on small things in other people’s lives before taking planks and logs out of our own. In my case, I need to make sure I’m sharpened and I’m good before I try to mansplain anything to anyone. Take my advice on this one, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be correct. 😉
Joel Juni and his wife Jennifer are the pastors of Restoration Christian Church in Park Rapids.
Joel Juni and his wife Jennifer are the pastors of Restoration Christian Church in Park Rapids.
