Judge Not

None of us is perfect. I know of no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions or inactions.

There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.”

-President Thomas S. Monson

I am a teacher in Relief Society, and yesterday I had the opportunity to teach about, "The pure love of Christ."  This lesson topic seems to come up a lot for me. Perhaps it is because I am so proficient at loving my neighbor, and not judging, that I am qualified to teach others how to be better. Or perhaps it is because it is one of my biggest weaknesses, and so I know exactly how to address the issue, because it is MY issue. It is my very personal, very deep-dwelling issue -- that needs constant correcting, and cleansing. Teaching lessons are often so helpful in healing . . . and hopefully helping others, too! 

I love teaching, especially Relief Society. It is the best.

*Random side note: Sometimes when I am done teaching, I feel so emptied. Sometimes I walk out of the room and I feel like I leave myself on the podium -- all my guts, and emotions, my spirit, and everything I had to offer. I let it all out, and then walk away. The end. It is such a strange thing. You go from teaching-with-the-Spirit high -- to end-of-lesson low. You get nods and, "nice lesson," comments, and then you go home. Drained. Sometimes teaching makes me feel so very vulnerable. When it is over, I wonder if any of it made a difference . . . if it mattered. If those who listened were able to feel the intense feelings that were being burned in my heart, as I spoke with a voice much stronger than my own. I would hope that something I have offered while teaching over the years has been of some worth to someone. But, if not, I know I have learned more as a teacher than I could learn any other way. 

Anyway . . .  back to the topic of having charity in our hearts. 

Yes, I am flawed. Yes, charity -- purely loving others -- is something I have to work on. Every. Single. Day. Yes, I am a beam-flinger when a mote has been cast my way . . .  

But I don't want to be. I want to be better. I have to constantly keep myself in check throughout the day. I have to catch myself from casting judgements on those around me. It is not fair to them, it is not fair to me! It only does damage. And, oh, how very wrong I usually am when assuming things about those I don't know . . . and even those I do know! 

It is true, we have to judge a little. We need to determine if someone is safe, or trustworthy, or deceiving, or scary, etc., etc., the list goes on infinitely, forever . . . and we need to protect ourselves. Absolutely. 

That is not the judgement I am talking about. 

I am talking about how we look at others, and judge them by their appearance, or actions. We categorize them into such-and-such group. We treat them a certain way because of the way they look, and what we see. We judge others because of their clothes, their hair, their size, their shoes . . . . We judge them for their actions, their words, their mistakes, their flaws, their seeming perfection, their mothering, their everything. We judge unrighteous judgements, and we do it ALL the time. 

Why? Because we can, and it makes us feel better, right? 

Not right. 

Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”  The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”  I ask: can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I  answer—with Mother Teresa: no, we cannot. - President Thomas S. Monson

I used to be really bad at judging others. I am not even close to free from this flaw now, but I am better than I was -- that is for sure! I am sure a lot of my progress comes from time, and age, but also hard work! It is especially hard for me because I love to watch people. And in that watching, there is the dangerous line I can cross into judging. Jeepers it is hard to change. Do you know how hard it is to reconstruct the interior of your heart, and soul? Do you know how hard it is to pluck out the jealously, envy, and insecurity, and just let it go? Do you know how hard it is to just love people? I mean really love them? 

It is hard . . . but it is possible! 

I don't want to get all preachy, but I really feel like love is missing in the world right now. People much prefer a good fight. The debates taking place over right and wrong, gray and grayer, are endless. People argue, all the time, over really lame things. They want to be right, not kind. Pride . . . the world is ripe with it. With so much ugliness in the world, how can we possibly win the good fight? 

It is simple. 

We can win it with love. 

If your heart is full of love, the love of God, the pure love of Christ . . . then the fight is already won for you. No matter what happens. A heart full of love is a heart full of freedom . . . and that can never be taken away. Not ever. Peace. Contentment. Happiness. All within your grasp. 

You just have to let it go . . . 

If you are plagued with the disease of pride and judging that once plagued me . . . I encourage you to let it go. Just do it.  Allow love to take pride's place in your heart, and be free. 

To love another person is to see the face of God . . . and freedom.