Judge, we all do it! {Day 16}

To me there is an absolute right and absolute wrong. I am a black-n-white kind of person and have a hard time seeing the differing shades of grey. That’s why this reflection is very simple and at the same time very hard.

Is it wrong to judge others? Absolutely. But the topic of judging is, for me, looking at the shades of grey.

For instance, a friend calls, she has had a fight with her husband, you listen, you empathize and on some level you judge. We all do, it's human nature.

Our Lord tells us judge not, lest you be judged. I am sure I have been judged by others for the things I say or don’t say, or the things I do or don’t do. Again, this is what it means to be human.

On some level, we all judge. It is almost and automatic reaction, when we are listening to another’s situation or circumstance.

So I am wondering, if it is human to have instantaneous judging thoughts. then this teaching is seemingly unattainable. Or is it?

You see, I think that the first step to not judging others is to admit to ourselves that we do indeed judge others and ourselves all the time!!!! I mean, I judge others on really insignificant things, if you start to pay attention, you too might find you have this same problem.

Am I judging you about judging? You see it can be that simple! I know, I know that’s not really what today’s reflection was about but it starts somewhere.

I find when I am listening to my friend tell me something I really shouldn’t know and I get those interior judgey thoughts, I remember that I have the same issues, in different ways. It helps bring my thoughts back up to the ten-thousand foot view and not caught in the details…..where I tend to judge!!!

This is really easy to do for others but a little harder to do with family and really hard to do for ourselves. On some level, I think we are all just disappointed that humanity is not perfect! Judgement on my part!!

So how can we stop judging? This is an interior disposition, and interior dispositions can me strengthen when exercised. By stopping the thought or judgement at the threshold of the mind (Imitation of Christ) and not letting it in, where it can quickly grow into something much more serious.

This is where practice comes in and now we can rejoice when we are placed in a situation where will get to practice. It also helps us to remember that all are on the same road, the road to eternal life.

So next time you find yourself making a judgement, stop and rejoice, and thank God for the opportunity to exercise this part of you!!

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