Judgement
There is a biblical axiom that states “judge not lest ye be judged”; uttered by Jesus as recorded in the book of Matthew. The meaning was to not judge others when you are doing the same thing yourself; perhaps in a different way. The word judgment is defined in two ways in the dictionary. First, judgment is the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions. The second definition is; a misfortune or calamity viewed as a divine punishment. I was out on my walk today and noticed the beauty that surrounds me, as I often do. I saw the red rock formations, the clear blue sky, the waning colors of summer in the perennial bushes. It is one of the most beautiful places anywhere.
I was aware today that I was making a judgment about what I was observing. There are probably those who might take the same walk and notice it’s not very green. We would both be using our judgment about our experience. Neither of us is right or wrong, we just notice. As I walk through the area there is another occasional walker or runner. We are all different shapes and sizes. However, it seems to me, that those of us who exercise more have a lower body mass index (BMI). Experts have told us that it is healthier to have a lower BMI. We are not better people because we do, perhaps just healthier. Then there is a societal idea about what is attractive. Most of us would say a person who is thinner and in shape with some muscle definition, is more attractive. But who decided what is pretty or handsome?
I would like us to focus on dictionary definition number one: the ability to to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions. In today’s world, it is easy to get caught up in the game of right and wrong. We seem to be more polarized than I can ever remember. It is easy to judge the other end of the belief spectrum.
Our homework tonight might be to borrow another old Native American proverb, and that is: “never criticize someone until you have walked a mile in their moccasins”. Let us open our hearts to everyone and consider that we know little of what has occurred in their life. I think it was M. Scott Peck who proposed that if we were to have had the same life experience of the other we judge; we too may have made the same decisions. Let us use our judgment to come to sensible conclusions that uphold everyone and everything. From my heart to yours, Thomas
Tomorrow is forgiveness.
forgiveness
you were born with a dream that lies deep in your soul