Originally published Thursday, 29 March 2018.
For weeks, months even, I observed this gal on social media. Because she regularly posted, I could easily keep track of her. As I saw it, every picture was a sob story about her life. Every post seemed to be a call to the world saying, "See me! See me! Pay attention to what I am doing!" She prickled my nerves.
“At least I'm not like her,” I thought.
I thought this way for a very long time. Until. Until I discovered the reality. Reality is not social media. Reality is the voice behind it. And when I heard her voice on the telephone, I discovered the true pain of her recent struggles. I saw her heart to come to the aide of others and saw the true line of Jesus' love running right through her.
I thought wrong.
A friend came to my house. To every question I asked her she replied with a one word Humph-like answer. She wasn't a very good friend. She must be angry at me.
At least I'm not like her.
Only later, when I asked how I could pray for her did she share, "Please pray for my marriage."
I thought wrong, again.
"The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’" Lu. 18:11
Oh really, Mr. Pharisee? You are not like them? Certainly, you "must be" a whole bunch more godly, more wise, more thoughtful, more successful, more holy...but, there is only one issue: You carry around brick-heavy weights of pride.
Yes, pride. It is the thing that makes you judge others without knowing the full story. It is the thing that makes you see one side but not the other. It is the thing that makes you consider others’ sin at a moments notice, while missing your own.
"I tell you that this (tax collector) man, rather than the (Pharisee), went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Lu. 18:14
Today, my aim is new: I will not judge what I don't know. I can never know the inner story behind a person's outer persona. The pain that resides inside usually works its way out. My job is not to pin it to the wall in condemnation. My job is to love until its appearance smoothes under the love of Christ.
I can do this with myself, and with others.
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