Understanding myself, understanding others

I just love the way Oswald Chambers writes. I can't get enough of his writing!

He says, for example, "We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives." And the day before, "We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God."

How is it that this generation, like Chambers' generation, is even more enamored with knowledge of Self? Why do we remain in such pride, as if we are in possession of exceptional knowledge of Self, that people in generations past could not have had? And the younger we are, the more we think we know ourselves and no one else really understands us. It's positively fashionable to be misunderstood by ones parents, as if they can't know what its like to be young, since they are old.

But God has even more in store for us when we are old, if we never stop learning and listening and growing. Myself, for example: I have a kind of difficult time with a certain person, who is very perfectionistic and extremely critical of everyone and everything. The more I recognize his weakness, the more I find the same weakness in myself---or am I growing more and more critical through his influence? Surely I am not trying to imitate this person. But I cannot escape the influence, any more than a weed can escape the sun which makes it grow more and more obvious and less able to hide.

So I give up. Critical words and thoughts are only making me a burden to my family. Lord, I surrender. I am no better than the person who most vexes me, no better than a common criminal, no better than the complete heathen, even if I have come so far with you. Change me from a carnal, self-centered, unloving ogre into a gentle shepherd like Jesus.