I pulled into the parking space just as the red pickup truck next to me turned sharply, clipping the neighboring car so hard it rocked on its wheels.
The pickup idled. Behind the spattered windows rolled up tight, a man and a woman looked down at the scraped Ford. There was discussion. Mouths moved behind the closed windows. They looked, talked some more, laughed. And then drove slowly away.
I ran across the parking lot and into SuperSaver. Tossing my purse onto crates of tomato juice, I wrote a note and the license plate number on the back of a used envelope. And then I hurried back outside to place it on the damaged car’s windshield.
I was pleased with myself. They deserved it, that couple. They’d done something wrong and had even had the gall to laugh about it. They’d looked like the type who would do such a thing: unkempt, rough around the edges. Justice needed to be served, and I was the one to do it.
Halfway across the parking lot, note in hand, I stopped. The woman who had sat in the pickup truck now stood in front of the little blue Ford, hands thrust deep in the pockets of her ragged jacket. She surveyed the front bumper and then turned and sauntered toward the grocery store. One row away the man waited in the passenger seat of the red pickup.
I stalled a few seconds before following the woman back into the grocery store. In the produce section I plucked six oranges from the pyramid. I pushed my cart toward the onions, checked my list.
“May I have your attention please,” the announcer garbled over the store intercom. I paused. “Will the owner of a dark blue Ford, license plate OGI 782, please come to the customer service counter at the front of the store. The owner of a blue Ford, license plate OGI 782, please come to customer service. Thank you.”
Although this incident happened more than two years ago, I still think about it a lot, and I was reminded of it again when I read this week’s lesson about the blind man.
“I entered this world to render judgment,” Jesus told the blind man after he had healed him “– to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”
Jesus was talking about the know-it-all Pharisees, of course, who just moments earlier had chastised the healed man, a sinner, for daring to contradict them, for daring to teach them.
As much as I hate to admit it, I know Jesus is talking to the know-it-all me in this story, too. That day in the SuperSaver parking lot (and many other days since then) I was the worst kind of Pharisee. I was confident I had it all figured out. Those people – the ones who looked a little unkempt, the ones who were different than me, dare I say less-than me – they had needed to be judged, and I had appointed myself to do it.
What I didn’t realize until almost too late was that I’d judged wrong; I’d been blind. I’d only thought I could see. And those people? The ones I’d deemed the sinners? The ones I’d considered less-than?
They taught me.
Questions for Reflection:
Have you ever wrongly judged someone? Have you ever considered that it might be you that Jesus is talking to in this story, or do you always assume it’s someone else?
Part of this post originally ran as a guest post two years ago at Emily Wierenga’s place.
If you are looking for a daily devotional to accompany your walk through Lent this year, consider Beneath the Tree of Life – a collaborative effort between my church, Nebraska photographer Curt Brinkmann and me. It’s available as a free downloadable e-booklet to email subscribers of this blog. Click here for more details. {If you already receive these blog posts in your email in-box, scroll all the way down to the very end of the post to the blue box, where you’ll find directions for how to access and download the Lenten e-devotional.}
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Oh yes, I’ve definitely judged wrongly, before. It’s a pretty humbling experience. Realizing, this morning on my blog, though, that the humility of realizing I was wrong is a necessary component of the glorious epiphany of insight into new understanding.
I’ve decided I like the epiphanies! …so I’ll gladly accept the humility of realizing how wrong I was… 🙂
Yes, yes, yes, humility is part of the grace journey – lovely point, Joe!
This is so very true. A few years ago, I was pierced when reading, “The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” (Matt. 7:2,NLT). Yeah, that helped me to be more gracious for sure!
Piercing verse, I’ll say – thanks for sharing that Joanne.
Hi Michelle! I remember this story when you first posted it, but I think it means even more to me now…
I don’t know if it’s getting older;) too many years working with trying teenagers? or just some crust I’d rather ditch for good…but I know that God has a profound sense of humor loving me enough to not let me go down to the deep end of the proverbial Pharisaic pool. Most recently it’s ALL of the things I blame my sweet-patient husband for losing only to find out it was me:) I’ve started to anticipate the punch line and have the smile ready:) {hugs to you!}
SO so happy to see you here, Abby – sending lots of love!
Judging has been part of our Sunday School discussion the past several weeks, so this was a timely post and great reminder. Thanks for the opportunity to link up, Michelle.
Thanks for your honesty here…I am a recovering Pharisee … It is painful to have a ” pharisectomy”…. But the surgeon is so kind and gentle… So wise to know just where to cut and He provides the perfect healing balm. At times I can look back and almost feel nauseous …but as Grace changed how I see others… It’s changed how I see myself!!!!
I know what you mean, Ro – this story makes me sick. I am ashamed by my behavior.
I like how you put that: pharisectomy. 🙂
Guilty. I’ve been guilty of this many times.
I keep praying for God to give my eyes of grace. Lord, please…
this is such a powerful post, Michelle. it’s actually a bit of a slap across my face as I realize my own propensity for judging even when I am so outspoken against that very thing.
love you, love your heart.
“As much as I hate to admit it, I know Jesus is talking to the know-it-all me in this story, too.”
I’ve done that far too often than I’d care to admit. 🙁 Judging others comes way too easily, including judging myself. I want it all to go away.
oh I am too judge-y. It is the thing that I like least about me. I think when I spew out my judgments it is worse! Maybe a good Lenten practice would be to keep some of these tidbits to myself and wait and see what actually happens. Picky, picky, picky . . .
Oh Michelle, I’ve done this more often than I’d like to admit. I find myself judging others and then humbled by the realization that I was the one wronging them in my heart. Thank God He is so patient and gracious with us!
All is not what you sometimes think you see. Better to wait and let it play out!
VERY wise advice, Nancy!
Oh yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s me Jesus is talking to in this story and He’s doing it through your blog post today about something I’ve been judging recently.
Oh, Lord, forgive me for all the times I’ve judged wrongly. But, through those, Jesus has taught me a powerful lesson, as it seems He has to you, Michelle. It is not our place to judge; it is our place to love.
Blessings!
Ouch!! What a lesson that keeps on teaching. How we have all misjudged others, so many times. Lord, help me!
I can’t think when I judged someone (my memory fails me) but yet I know I have. I have learned (through experience) to be careful not to be soooo sure about something because just about when I am absolutely sure…I find I am dead wrong and have an apology to make.
Thanks so much for hosting.
It is so easy to fall into the trap of judging, and forgetting to love. Thanks for the great post & for hosting & God bless!
Oh boy do I get this, Michelle, and sadly not because I’m the one who has been misjudged (though I have been, and it hurts). But how quickly do I make assumptions and assume that I am Queen of the Universe, with a right to dish out proclamtions of judgment. Thank you for a soul-probing post! It’s a great reminder.
Love
Lynn
Michelle, I’m so happy I found your site. I somehow saw it when I was reading one of the bloggers who had recently link-uped to your “Hear It On Sunday, Use it On Monday.” I actually just added my link-up after reading some of your posts and some of the others. Then I decided to check out more about you and realized you are at an ELCA congregation in Lincoln. I actually graduated from UNL in 2004 and though I’m ordained PCUSA, I am currently serving 3 ELCA congregations (along with an American Baptist church) in the city of Chicago. As a true Cornhusker, I love these types of connections! I look forward to reading more from you in the future.
As to your post: this is a beautiful story and such a common one. I continuously find myself blind to others’ intentions and/or their needs in my personal life and in my ministry. Thank you for your honesty and this beautiful reminder.
Reverend Emily, I am so happy to meet you here – thank you for your gracious comment and for introducing yourself! I will hop over to your place in a bit to say hello there.