Judging people

Last year, I sat in a group where we all introduced ourselves. I hate that. I didn’t hear a word that anybody else said until I introduced myself. I was too busy trying to decide what to say about myself. I don’t think I wanted to make a good impression; I wanted to avoid making a bad impression. Being unnoticed would be okay. This, of course, is all about pride. Eventually I gave my spiel and began to actually listen to others. Amazingly, I was judging everyone that I heard. I hate this about myself, but it’s true. A burly man who looked like he had edge started to talk. I pictured him as a somewhat disillusioned pastor of a small church somewhere. As he talked, he revealed that he was founding pastor of a fairly large emerging type church. I immediately changed my evaluation of him. I don’t know what I hate most about this scene: that I was worried about how others would perceive me, that I was so quick to judge others, or that I revised my evaluations based on things that don’t really matter (success rather than heart). It’s so hard not to judge. I’d much prefer to see the image of God in every individual. Maybe one day I’ll get there.