Several years ago I realized that if I were to really grow and experience a spiritual transformation during Lent, I was going to have to be very transparent with the Lord and myself. It is humbling when you really face yourself, but I think that is Lent. I hope these thoughts motivate you to do the same.
Have you ever caught yourself saying; “For crying out loud, he really should know better than…”
At first that doesn’t sound all that … wrong, but when the Holy Spirit began to speak to me about it, I began to realize several things.
Sometimes the impulse to judge is my own insecurity, redirected.
Some-times it is worry, misdirected, or a hurt feeling, misdirected.
Sometimes it is just plain silly.
“At whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (thank you Paul)
Paul probably knew about the statements that Jesus made: “First remove the plank from your own eye; he who is without sin cast the first stone, etc.”
Evaluating others can become a habit that initially did not feel wrong but it is. This does not mean I should stop holding any beliefs about right or wrong, of course. It does not mean I cannot try to help a friend see another way when I think he is doing something harmful, or sinful, or just plain stupid.
It does mean that I should try to cultivate compassion, instead of just criticizing.
It does mean I should remember what a friend said to me just last month when I was off in the direction of “she really should know better.” He said: “It is really hard to be a human being.”
“It is really hard to be a human being.”
I think that my judgmental comments seem to be, among other things, one of those barriers between me and other people— and ultimately between me and true self.
Lent is an invitation to stop. Let’s accept he invitation!
