Last evening my wife and I went for supper at a place that features local musicians. When we entered there was a small group performing that included a female singer. She had a terrific voice but was a bit difficult to watch. Her facial expressions looked like she was in pain but what came out of her mouth was anything but painful. I noticed an old guy sitting in a back corner by himself. I wondered if he came in just to be somewhere. He looked scruffy and I completely misjudged him. When it was time for the next group of musicians to take front and center the scruffy old guy worked his way to the piano. Oh, my! It was beyond amazing. With not a single piece of written music, for the next thirty minutes he dazzled us with music that came from deep inside. It just flowed out. So much for thinking he was just some old guy in the corner. I kid you not. I would have remortgaged my house to pay someone to teach me to do what he was doing.
It is no wonder that Jesus told us not to judge other people. We really don’t have the abilities to make good judgments about others. So often we make assessments using the wrong indicators. I know the Bible says by their fruits we will know them. But, rarely do we spend the necessary time needed to be good fruit inspectors. We make snap judgments based on the flimsiest of details.
I didn’t shave today and have gray stubble that makes me look like a cheap version of Freddy the Freeloader. I really wouldn’t want someone evaluating me on such scratchy evidence.
Written by Roger Bothwell on October 18, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org