Needing God's help

The Scripture I love to ignore because I think I have so much to say ... so much 'wisdom' to impart :
James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 

The Scripture I love to quote when asking people to support what we are feeling called to do with our lives: 
James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress 

The Scripture I love to avoid because God has set me so free that I forget I am vulnerable:
(James 1:27 cont.) and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

All within 2 verses in the Bible and I ignore or forget 2/3 of it to suit myself.  

I feel sad tonight. How often I have been part of the problem instead of the solution, especially when I thought I was right and could make things better by my opinion. 

Have you ever been really working hard, trying your very best, and then someone comes along who has a 'constructive criticism' for you? It can take all the wind out of your sails and slow your progress towards getting the real work done. 

How many times have I have done this to people? Coworkers, superiors at work, teachers I have had, volunteers in all capacities. 

The hardest ones for me to think about are the pastors and other leaders. It is just so easy to focus in on the imperfections. "He does this so well but... " I want to erase the 'but...' from my vocabulary. I want to be a visionary cheerleader, not a nit picker with good intentions. 

Rita and Christian are the houseparents in the Ark at Keetmanshoop. They dedicate their lives ... every single day ... to being there for the kids entrusted to them. I find myself scared to go to the Ark to "help" them. Will I be able to humbly submit to whatever I find there? Will I fall back into my human tendency to want to change and 'perfect' what is going on? What will I be blind to that could make all the difference? I am going to need help. 

Oh Lord God. You are my God and I need You to do a work in me (us) so that I am ready to come along side this couple. I don't want to get in the way of a blessing You want to bring to them. Please bridge the language barrier, cultural differences, prejudices we might have about one another. Take all that down and use Andy and I to do nothing but put new wind in their sails, at their backs, as they continue their tireless work. And Lord, I am sorry for the pride and shortsightedness I have shown and I thank you that I know You forgive me and give me a new start. Amen.