Every One of Us a Fathomless Mystery

The great writer and theologian Reinhold Niebuhr contended, that perhaps more evil comes into this world from premature judgments about others than from anything else.

That’s a strong statement. But if you think about it, there is a lot of truth in it.

So often, we think we know who a person is, or what their motives are, or how they will act, simply by how they look or where they come from…or from what they do for a living… or how they vote.

We also are quick to judge other people’s actions without having any idea, what their world is like. We so quickly size people up. We stereotype them. We become judgmental. And we make assumptions about them:

If you come from this country, then you must be like this, this and this…

If you are the kind of person who voted for Trump then you must also be like this, this, and this….If you are the kind of person who voted for Biden then you must also be like this, this, and this…

But the truth is much more complex than that.

Each and every one of us is a fathomless mystery. We carry within us not only a spark of the divine – we also carry within us unique backgrounds, history, experiences, and family dynamics – all of which shape what we believe, who we are, and how we see the world. None of us fit squarely within any label, or any box, or any stereotype.

And when we size up or judge others, or make assumptions, we so quickly miss the richness and depth of what they have to offer…

The philosopher John O’Donohue claims there is a hunger in everyone’s spirit to be seen, to be loved, to be accepted as you are, without being judged.

How true is that!

Let us pray: God of grace, at this time when the social fabric of our nation is torn and quickly fraying, at this time when so many are lonely, starved for connection, hungry to be known, empower us to be the kind of people, who are curious about others, quick to listen, slow to judge. We look to Jesus, who shows us the way. Amen.