I have a student who did not know about the 2009 jetliner miracle on the Hudson. He claims he never heard the name “Captain Sullenberger.” He is not a recent arrival to America. He was born and raised here. I think that is why he seems to know all there is to know about the Kardashians. At least once a class period he mentions them. He most likely goes home and says, “Would you believe my teacher knows nothing about Kanye West?” We are two pilgrims traveling on the same road and yet never seeing the same things along the way.
I think about him and think there must be some great and pithy lesson here. But I am not sure I am wise enough to discern what it is. I think about the fact that he and I wear different colored glasses and thus filter out what does not interest us. But that is obvious. We all do that. My wife and I come home from church and when we talk about the sermon sometimes it is as if we had listened to two different preachers. Often the preacher will say something that triggers my mind and as I ponder it I suddenly realize I have just missed the last ten minutes.
No wonder Jesus calls on us not to judge others. I don’t know enough about you to judge you. I don’t know what you know or don’t know. Yet I want you to measure up to my standard when truthfully your level might be far more advanced. I’m just too uninformed to know that.
Revelation 20:4 says, “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.” I pray none of them are you or me – especially me.
Written by Roger Bothwell on April 23, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org