Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” – Nehemiah 4:3

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 25, 2017): Nehemiah 4

It is easy to criticize. We know that. Our politicians know that. One of the hardest transitions for a democratic government is moving from being the opposition to the elected government to taking over the position and function of the elected government. It is a different thought pattern that is needed to create than is required to criticize. It is relatively easy to see and understand where those who are in charge are going wrong. It is much harder to have actually to solve the problems with which the nations are struggling. This is why if you are an observer of American Politics, which seems to dominate our social understanding wherever we live, Republicans are always tearing down the Democrats, and the members of the Democratic Party tear down the Republicans. It is easier to spot the limitations of a crooked Hillary or Lying Ted or the Donald than it is to try to fix what is wrong. Solutions only happen when we can work beyond the labels and attack the actual problems that the nation is trying to face.

Tobiah the Ammonite is a critic. He doesn’t want the wall built and has no intention of suggesting a solution to the problem. All he knows is that the wall that is being built won’t work. It is weak, and even a small animal like a fox attempting to climb the structure would bring it down. Were Tobiah’s words right? Maybe, but more likely they are a grand exaggeration of the truth. But the reality is that criticizing the strength of the wall was a lot easier than trying to build a strong wall.

Critics are always those who have taken the easiest path. They have no intention of solving the problem or being part of the solution. Maybe they just aren’t smart enough, or creative enough to imagine a different way. Personally, I used to be a good critic, but my hope is that I have moved onto something better – to expending energy to finding the solutions no matter the source.

Some years ago, in a moment of honesty, a colleague admitted that he really didn’t want to be part of a focus to find the solution to a problem because then he couldn’t criticize the result. It was the voice of the critic, but my desire was that he would reach beyond that to something better – the voice of the one who desired nothing more than to try to solve the problems that we faced. It is the hope that we have for all us.   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 5