Why do you see the speck in your
neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?
Wow! What a topic for me to write on!
In day-to-day life, the concept of non-judgmentalism is good in theory
but kind of rare in practice. How often do we find ourselves looking at someone else and
thinking to ourselves, "How could she do that?" Or more likely in my case,
"What is she thinking!"
I recently took a new job working in an environment where I could never
imagine myself. Some of the friendliest people I know work in my department, but we are
all a little gossip-prone. Lately, as the days progress, I see the gossip increase in
severity. I often catch myself in one of those "water cooler discussions,"
chatting about the personal lives of those I work with.
A small tidbit about a close friend, passed on to me by a co-worker,
suddenly made me see my friend differently. I passed the story on to someone else who told
me something I will never forget. I was asked if my friend was different in my eyes
because she had really changed or because of measly gossip.
What a wake-up call this was for me. Had I suddenly become one of those
gossipy people I thought so little of? Was this the action God would have wished me to
take? It was so easy to pass judgment on another without ever taking the truth into
consideration. Then I remembered that it is not our place in life to pass judgment. That
is God’s role, and when we try to pass judgment without full awareness of the
circumstances, we are trying to take the place of God. First we must strive to become free
of sin before we are able to remove the sin from others.
Dear Lord, help me to see when I have sinned and let me come to
you for forgiveness. Free me from the bonds of idle gossip and help me become more helpful
to others rather than merely passing judgment on them. Your holy Son came into the world
to save humanity from sin. Keep me always humble to the thought that I am one of those
sinners he came to save. And allow me to be grateful each day for the blessings he has
given me and to pray for those less fortunate than I. Amen.
Sara Muse |
