Judge with Compassion

I sometimes pass on information regarding books that I have read that I feel others would enjoy. The book that I just completed is entitled Living on Purpose by Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior.  One of the chapters that hit home particularly hard starts with the question, “ Should we judge ourselves and others, or accept any kind of behavior?”

The short answer is “Judge with Compassion.” He goes on to say that the universe was created to teach us, not to judge us. Yet we judge the world and ourselves. Those quick to judge are slow to compassion. Those slow to compassion have forgotten that hurtful people don’t go to hell; they are already in hell; that is why they behave as they do. Ultimately, no one gets away with anything. Resenting people only allows others to live in our head rent-free. And despite our judgments, reality happens anyway. So, if we judge, let us judge with compassion, until we finally discover that our primary business is not forgiving others but asking forgiveness.
Mother Teresa said “If you judge people you have no time to love them.” I feel that often the one we forget to show this love is ourselves. Anne Truitt wrote “ It takes kindness to forgive oneself for one’s life.” Realize that we are doing the best we can within our limits of current beliefs. Millman says, “ Every saint had a past and every sinner has a future.” Maybe there is hope for me yet.

Until next time – Namaste – Jerry