Have you ever been rude to someone? Have you ever spoken harsh words? Everyone who is reading this must answer yes because you know you have. So how can we judge other people harshly for doing the same thing? People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
As I write this, there is a news story about a celebrity being rude to a tow truck employee. Her car got towed and she is very upset. There were words exchanged and the celebrity went on a vicious verbal attack and blasted the tow employee with hurtful words. SO?
Well, this celebrity received a week's suspension from her job. For something that happened during her own time. And there are many people who are supporting her suspension and are calling for her dismissal.
I have been towed and I was furious. I can relate to how the celebrity felt. I can also relate to the person being lambasted because I have been on that end too.
Their exchange was videotaped and now the celebrity is being judged by a society of Hypocrites. Hypocrite: A person who pretends to be someone they are not. An example of a Hypocrite: The people who give you the finger while they are sitting in the line of traffic leaving church.
Isn’t there a line in the Bible about judging others?
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure, you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”*
So if you don’t agree with something someone else says or does, that’s OK. You have the right to your opinion, however, don’t judge, just accept that you don’t see eye to eye on this and move on. And you may ask yourself as you are forming this opinion: Have I ever done or said something like this? If you answer yes, this means that when you did it, it was OK. When someone else does it, it is not?
Don’t judge me and I won’t judge you. OK?
Namaste
*Matthew 7:1-5
This article will appear in Livin' out Loud magazine, May 2015 edition. Click to go:
Livin Out Loud magazine