{"id":20288,"date":"2002-04-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2002-04-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/2002\/04\/11\/cln20411\/"},"modified":"2002-04-11T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2002-04-11T00:00:00","slug":"cln20411","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/cln20411\/","title":{"rendered":"Criticism Avoiders Anonymous"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Hello. My name is Clark.” (Group responds, “Hi, Clark.”)<\/p>

“I am a … ” (Group encourages, “You can say it. It’s okay.”)<\/p>

“I’m a … criticism avoider.” (Applause all around.)<\/p>

“It started when I was a kid … ” (“Come on now.” “Tell it.”)<\/p>

” … and my mom would praise me for everything. She’d say, ‘Can you say Momma?’ I’d say it and she would gush about what a smart kid I was.” (“We know, man. We know.”)<\/p>

“Then I would take the trash out when she asked me to and she’d make a big deal over that, too.” (“We feel your pain, man.”)<\/p>

“And those good grades in school … ” (“Oh tell me about it.” “You’re not alone.”)<\/p>

“So with me thinking I had to be the perfect kid and all that … ” (“Yes, you can do it.” “C’mon.” “Pour it out, man.”)<\/p>

” … I learned not to say anything that would result in … ” (“Just say the word.” “It’s not that hard.”)<\/p>

” … that would result in … criticism.” (More applause.)<\/p>

“Then, when I expressed my opinion in class, and a couple of the older kids taunted me … ” (“Let it out, man.”)<\/p>

“I decided I would just go along to get along, even if it meant not telling the truth about what I believe or how I feel.” (Lots of applause and cheers.)<\/p>

The Group Leader rises, pats the CAA rookie on the back, and says to the group, “And now, let’s all repeat the CAA Six Steps.” (They rise to their feet, taking off their caps.)<\/p>