St Peter’s Basilica Statuary, taken by Martha Wiggins, 2011
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
God Calling, A.J. Russell, June 30 – “Always seek to understand others and you cannot fail to love them. See Me in the dull, the uninteresting, the sinful, the critical, the miserable.
When we see through our own eyes, through our human limitations, we see only in comparison to ourselves. Rightly or wrongly, we judge. There is an old saying, ‘You can’t see the forest for the trees.’
Most often our judging is not really to criticize another, but instead, to validate or vindicate ourselves. If we reason, or determine, that another is wrong, stupid, or idiotic, then we must be right, smart, and/or sane. Being right, or better, is usually more important to us than seeing clearly, or correctly.
When we sincerely seek to understand others, we must see through our soul, through our own image and likeness to Christ. Looking outward from our soul we bypass our ego, and see beyond ourselves to the other’s image and likeness to Christ. We are then able to see another’s concerns, or another’s struggles. We see why they act like they do, why they are who they are.
When we seek to understand, rather than judge, others we see them in comparison to ourselves in a way that allies them with us in the quest to be all that we can be in Christ; we become brothers and sisters in Christ. Because we are self-involved, or self-centered, though, it can be quite difficult. Yes, we give it good lip service (me included), and yet, in our heart we still judge. We may even love, yet we judge.
Look for and see your neighbor’s, your friend’s, and your own family member’s struggles with themselves and the world. But, don’t just look. Seek to understand, so that you can love instead of judge. When we love without judging, we are also loved more in return … and maybe not judged.
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