Snap Judgments: Who Do They Hurt? Recently I was embarrassed to learn that I judge others by their appearance. Worse, I apparently tend to give more status to persons according to the job they have. I went to a conference among the people who coordinate Daily Wisdom. I had never met any of them. So the first morning I went down to the hotel dining room, and saw three men having breakfast together. The man who caught my attention the most was a very large man. He had gray hair, wore a black shirt, black pants and sneakers. He spread out over his chair as he leaned forward in animated breakfast conversation with his friends.Then I went to the first session of the day, and I found that the large man in black with tennis shoes was the president of the organization, BillyZeoli. He also turned out to be an endearing, inspiring, funny speaker.I must admit that I would never have guessed that from his appearance.Why do we judge people according to how they look, and their job? Why do we tend to listen to and respect people who have more status than we do? "If you show partiality, you commit sin," says the writer James in the Bible. He provides the example of giving a rich person in fine clothes and gold jewelry a better seat than someone in dirty clothes. Why should we avoid this kind of judging? Another word of wisdom comes to us from the Bible: "You will be judged by your own measuring stick." (Matthew). Others are judging me by the way I look and the kind of lifestyle I live. Find someone to be accountable to and have them regularly ask you, "Did you make any snap judgments this week?" You should find yourself making fewer hasty judgments. Sometimes, it is not so much the damage you do to the other person, but the damage you do to your own personality. If I permit myself to mentally judge others by the way they look, act, or the job they hold, or where they live, I become more egotistical. No one really likes an egotistical person.We all have many ways that we mess up, many ways we need to seekforgiveness, many ways we can improve our thoughts and ourrelationships.

A Joke A Day
The Biggest Sissy!

One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small boy into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?" The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't dear," she said."I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence was broken at last by a shaken little voice saying, "The big sissy."

Thought for the Day
Prejudice

The following story is reported to be true: On a British Airways flight from Johannesburg, a middle-aged, well-offwhite South African lady has found herself sitting next to a black man. She called the cabin crew attendant over to complain about her seating. "What seems to be the problem, Madam?" asked the attendant. "Can't you see?" she said, "You've sat me next to a kafir. I can't possibly sit next to this disgusting human. Find me another seat!" "Please calm down, Madam." the stewardess replied. "The flight is veryfull today, but I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll go and check to see if we have any seats available in club or first class". The woman cocks a snooty look at the outraged black man beside her (not to mention many of the surrounding passengers). A few minutes later the stewardess returns with the good news, which she delivers to the lady, who cannot help but look at the people around her with a smug and self-satisfied grin. "Madam, unfortunately, as I suspected, economy is full. I've spoken to the cabin services director, and club is also full. However, we do have one seat in first class". Before the lady has a chance to answer, the stewardess continues: "It is most extraordinary to make this kind of upgrade, however, and I have had to get special permission from the captain. But, given the circumstances, the captain felt that it was outrageous that someone should be forced to sit next to such an obnoxious person. "With that, she turned to the black man and said: "So if you'd like to get your things, sir, I have your seat ready for you..."At which point, the surrounding passengers stood and gave a standing ovation while the man walked to the front of the plane...Prejudice is such an ugly thing. James warned us that it especially has no place in the life of a Christian: "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality."(James 2:1). As important as laws are, laws will never conquer prejudice because prejudice is a matter of the heart. May God fill our hearts with the love that He showed to all of mankind! Have a great day!