[begin transmission]

I've been struggling so desperately w/ seeing sin in others and my own self-righteousness. I think I may have fallen into a trap that is all too easy to give into--especially considering that there is a paradoxical tendency for humanity to, on one hand, create and nurture things. This entails the correction of any flaws or wrongdoing that one encounters, in hopes of fostering the good. In the other hand, there is also a natural tendency to destroy and assert oneself in a domineering manner.

Towards my better nature, I am still deeply concerned for you. I don't approve of your behavior; I truly don't think any of it will serve you well. It discourages any compassion and good will I may feel towards you, since your behavior indicates to me that you're not willing to extend that same compassion and good will towards others. It is a very strong, almost physiological reaction that I cannot ignore. The reason why I get on your case about it is not b/c I know you're better than that--part of the point here is that you're not--but b/c this sort of attitude is the kind of thing that ensures you're going to run into all sorts of trouble later down the line. And even worse still, these are character flaws that color your soul. Your soul in specific is something that I care about.

Maybe that last part was a bit too overdramatic; surely it was. But really. Think about it. Who you are as a person is substantially informed by the manner that you think. If you have thoughts like this, that is you as a person. Not as a student or a citizen of your country, or any other social role, but it is intrinsically part of your identity. Every single time you exercise that thought and deem it as acceptable, the deeper it integrates into you. Wouldn't it make sense to work towards clearing up your thoughts and polishing up your character? In short, I worry about you.

Towards my lesser nature, I can admit that I let ego get the best of me and forgot that I am really no better off than you are. Here I am judging you and condemning you for your sins. I can very well judge you for it--I recognize sin when I see it, not least in part b/c I perpetuate it myself--but I cannot condemn you for it. To condemn you for that would be to be like the scribes and Pharisee of today's readings. So...for the sake of trying to be everything I purport to believe in, in the interest of pursuing the Good, I need to exercise my compassion and simply let these kinds of things go. You know where you've trespassed, and in the cases that you're not aware, I will call them out to you. I will not, however, henceforth hold it against you.

[end transmission]