Being Human

Humans are a judgmental lot. Religious or non-religious, we judge from the time we get up in the morning until we close our eyes at night.

We judge how people dress (I would never wear that!).

Well, I might not but it's because it looks horrible on me.

How they raise their children (I'd never let mine do that!).

Their little noses will be snotty and they'll have chocolate stains on their shirts, no matter what.

The way people vote. (Why, you're just stupid and uneducated and from the South)

No, no and yes.

The way people worship (you can't worship God in a contemporary service -- it's in the Bible!)

Oh, really? Where exactly?

Even saying someone shouldn't be judgmental is being judgmental. I mean, after all, what is judging but thinking somebody is doing something the wrong way -- or not the way you would do it?

I guess this hit home today because of the death of Bin Laden. So many people were quick to judge others who they felt were being a little too celebratory. I'm not saying that some words/actions weren't over the top but I can't help but feel that most people were celebrating not so much the death of an individual but the death of pure evil -- which happened to wear the face of Bin Laden.

I could be wrong but how do I know what's in anybody else's heart?

I admit I'm judging a little bit today because of the one-Bible-verse postings (mostly on Facebook)  about how we should treat our enemies, fallen and otherwise. I've seen for myself how easy it is to pull one verse out of the Bible and run with it. But the main thing is, I think some people may be using these verses as a condemnation of others.

But condemnation has another name:

 

Judgment

 

Easy to recognize when others are doing it. Not always easy to see in the mirror.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

Guilty as charged. Sometimes it's just too hard to take a good, long look.

That's why I call myself a practicing Christian...not because I go to church regularly...but because I'm always trying, and often failing, to get it right...

 

Haiti

I haven't been ignoring the situation in Haiti. Every time I've contemplated a blog post, I don't know what to say. The images are horrific -- some of them remind me of the aftermath of 9/11.

Sometimes I can't even wrap my head around the poverty and corruption which exist in Haiti. It's so far removed from the world I know -- the privilege that all of us who live in the USA (and many other places) take for granted. I've never been without clean water or shelter. The only time I've been without electricity is during an ice storm -- for three days -- which seemed like an eternity but was definitely not.

The US, as usual, has aid on the way -- though there will always be the naysayers who say it's not enough or it's not getting there quickly enough. I know I'm on the outside looking in but it seems to me the response was immediate -- unfortunately, we haven't invented Star Trek-like transporters yet. Nor magic wands.

I'm always gratified by the response of "regular" folk who send donations. My favorite organization is the Salvation Army -- I tried several times the other day to donate before finally getting through. I suppose that was a good sign -- it meant people were giving from the heart -- which is how it ought to be.

I encourage everybody to do what they can. We all have our different gifts and talents -- for some it's time, for others, money -- so use what you have to help. You will be blessed.