Monday, September 17, 2012

Monday’s Devotion: Snapshot Judgments

Luke 6:37  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

I think I’ll look for a support group of people who have bad drivers’ license photos.  I went to renew mine last Friday.  Because this was my first renewal since the new requirements were put into place I couldn’t renew online.  I chose the color of my top carefully, styled my hair, put on what I thought was enough makeup and fretted over earrings.  After all, I would have this license for a long time.  Armed with a folder containing documents that told my name’s life story and then some I set out for the DL office nearest me.  I had heard stories on the news of 4 to 5 hour waits because of the confusion over the new requirements so I brought a book.  Surprisingly the entire process took me less than an hour.  I was saying, “Praise the Lord” until I looked at the photo on the temporary license they gave me. OMG – I almost cried.  Do I really look this bad?  I thought if that were the case I should just crawl into bed and cover up or maybe wear a burka. I’ve seen mug shots that looked better.  My husband tried to assure me that like all drivers’ license photos it was just a bad picture and not a good representative image. 

This made me think about how many times we judge people by quick snapshots – little segments of their life.  Someone makes a bad first impression, or has a bad day and makes a gruff remark or messes up in some way and snap – that moment is indelibly etched in our mind.  I threatened to “lose” my license so I could get another picture made.  That probably won’t happen, but you and I can give others opportunities for do-overs.  Maybe there’s more to them than can be caught in a snapshot of one moment in their life.
Holy God, help us to use more than snap judgments in making decisions about other people.  And Lord, when we’re feeling bad about ourselves, remind us that we are your creation and loved by you.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a blessed week!
Paige

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