I can’t believe she did that . . .
We went to see and participate in a fabulous play last night, “The Judgement of Fools,” written by Bernardo Cubría. This is the last weekend, so if you can make it, GO! It was interactive, and unpredictable. We, an audience of strangers, shared laughter, opinions, and were enlightened. There were several scenarios that sparked conversation, and one situation that caused quite a discussion. **SPOILER ALERT** A woman, who feels unloved, has sex with her married male co-worker in an alley, after a few drinks at an office party. His wife is in the hospital with complications after giving birth to their child, and he is feeling burdened with stress. We the audience were asked, “Is she a slut?” Their words, not mine.
Comments ranged from yes, to no, that he’s more wrong, that alcohol is a 3rd guilty member to the party, and who am I to judge?
Sometimes I get upset with myself, because I can be judgmental about things that don’t matter (Did you just judge me? Lol!). Judging can come from pride, a place of I know better, than him/her, and sometimes out of care, wanting what’s best/better for him/her. We may agree/disagree as to what best is. And in judgement is the line of right and wrong, and where is it, in this ever increasing politically correct society.
We have judges to decide right and wrong, and juries to help decide the weight of guilt, or mercy and grace of liberation.
As to the fictitious situation between the co-workers. What’s your answer?
I posed to the group, if you steal something, aren’t you a thief? Their response, it depends on why you stole. Whether you steal because you’re hungry or because you just wanted a pair of expensive jeans, in both moments, you’re a thief. But the judgement for stealing food versus an expensive pair of jeans, I would hope is different. And if you never steal again, are you always a thief? Most of us have some use to _____, and use to be _____. And maybe someone from back in the day, wouldn’t believe who you are today. I guess they judged wrong, fancy that, a human wrong? And perhaps, someone came along to help you remove that ‘speck from your eye.’
So there’s judgement, there’s mercy, there’s grace, and there’s redemption. Maybe we should have more mercy and grace to the car that just switched lanes without a signal, I’m sure we’ve all cut someone off, etc., and I’m sure he/she wants to get home to their family, just like you and me.
“Look beneath the surface so you judge correctly.” – John 7:24
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:1-5
“Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” – Matthew 7:20