As you already know, the word omphaloskepsis means navel gazing. For many, this concept indicates wasting time or day dreaming, but from Greek philosophy is was a form of meditation best described as “minding one’s own business.”

Yet, minding one’s own business meant much more than not intruding or imposing on those around us, omphaloskepsis explicitly demanded reflection and intentionality on achieving our highest potential and living our most noble values. Scripturally, omphaloskepsis recalls “Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” (Luke 6:42 NRSVue)

Omphaloskepsis invites us to deep introspection about who we want to be, who we believe God wants us to be, and how we will relate to those around us. It is an exercise in values clarification. Do we believe that telling the truth is better than lying, that generosity is superior to selfishness, that mercy is greater than punishment, that kindness is preferable to cruelty? Are we seeking to love unconditionally, broadly, deeply, and well? Do we present our best self to those around us, especially in difficult or trying situations? Are we striving to become the most intelligent, tolerant, compassionate, just, fair, and competent person possible? Are we using our time for improvement, learning, growth, and development or are we simply letting it slip away? Are we even close to becoming the best for ourselves, for our loved ones, for our neighbor, and even for the strangers around us?

I have become omphaloskeptical, I am not sure I or those I know are taking much time navel gazing in the Greek sense of the word. Or, at the very least, I am no longer sure that love, faith, hope, compassion, mercy, grace, kindness, generosity, etc. are our most highly held values. Selfishness seems to be a strong driving value. Distrust and hate of strangers seems to be increasing rather than disappearing. That which divides appears to be stronger than that which unites. Apathy trumps engagement while we wait for someone else to solve our problems. Sadly, in my own introspection, it causes me to question what impact and power the gospel of Jesus Christ still has on our culture, country, and world.

Judging others feels like it is dominating self awareness and personal responsibility. We are crystal clear on how we feel others should live, yet we bristle should anyone question our thoughts, words, deeds, or values. I simply wonder if our world might subtly and significantly improve were we to covenant to omphaloskepsis, and leave others alone. How might we as Christian disciples provide a witness in our world were we to become loggers instead of in-speck-tors (see what I did there?)?

I truly don’t believe people wake up in the morning thinking, “today I will be less kind, less tolerant, less loving, more aggressive, more divisive, more hateful, and as unpleasant as possible.” Unfortunately, I am not sure enough of us awaken to thoughts of “today I will be more generous and helpful, more hopeful and loving, less resentful and judgmental, committed to be as pleasant and encouraging as possible.”

I’ve offered the communities of faith a simple rule: if you give all your time to doing the dos, you won’t have time to do the don’ts. A corollary is this: the more we mind our own business the less time we will have to judge and meddle in the business of others.