Judging

"Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out."  ~Thomas S. Monson


A number of weeks ago, I ran into a woman at church.  I immediately felt weird around her.  As I felt this, I realized that I always feel this way around her--very uneasy.  When I saw her today, I figured it out.  It's because I think she's perfect, and because she's "perfect" in my mind, I feel judged by her that I am less than she is; however, if she's a perfect as I think she is, then she'd never do that, would she?  If she's as wonderful as I think she is, then she lives the words of President Monson.  From what I've witnessed of this woman, she does.  I'm thankful that most of the people I rub shoulders with are the kind who are out to do good.  I love that I can freely give the benefit of the doubt and never have to be wary of their motives.  In this day and age, what a blessing that is.

As I made this discovery today, it kind of put everything right in my mind and heart with her (and any others that I feel this way about).

Now, believe me, I know no one's perfect.  We all struggle.  It's actually been very surprising to me,  as I've gotten to know them better, just how difficult the struggles of those, whom I previously thought perfect, have been and are.  It has given me an entirely new perspective on these individuals.

I also know that I shouldn't worry about whether anyone's judging me or not.  What it sums up to is that, in the eternal scheme of things, no one on this earth is going to be judging me in any way that matters anyway, so why should it matter one iota what they think.  God is the only true judge.  He's the one I'd better be living to please, and if that's the case, I'd better be living up to the words at the top of this post.

Here's the funny thing.  I've been doing a lot of pondering on this subject of judgment lately.  There is someone in my life who judges that I am judging him.  It's kind of funny because I very rarely, if ever, see or talk to this person.  Yet, isn't it a funny thing to judge that someone's judging you?  I think that's strange--kind of ironic.  I wonder if he sees me as "perfect."  I wonder if he thinks I have no problems I'm dealing with myself.  I wonder why he thinks I have time to sit around and judge him when I've got my own issues to deal with.

The bottom line is I think sometimes we feel guilty for something we did or didn't do.  We still judge ourselves harshly for these things and because of them (and maybe because in some odd way it makes us feel better), we think others think less of us and judge us for them.  This is silly. 


When it all comes down to it, who cares what I think?

But, to be honest, I didn't think anything at all.