Chaplain's Message

I found this simple little story on line but it somehow found its way into my thinking! I often talk about “giving someone the benefit of the doubt”, yet will still find myself being critical and judgemental over little things that are probably none of my business anyway!

A young couple moved into a new house. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbour hanging the washing outside.

 

"That laundry is not very clean; she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better soap powder. Her husband looked on, remaining silent.

Every time her neighbour hung her washing out to dry, the young woman made the same comments.

 

A month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, "Look, she’s finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?"

 

The husband replied, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life… What we see when watching others, depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.

 

So don’t be too quick to judge others, especially if your perspective of life is clouded by anger, jealousy, negativity or unfulfilled desires.

 

"Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are."

Luke in the Bible tells us:

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. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

 

May we have the courage to regularly "clean our windows " knowing  that our perceptions can so often be wrong! May we,

 

'Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people,

A heart that forgives the worst

A mind that forgets the bad

And a soul that never loses faith in God.  

Amen' 

Pastor Sarah Pollitt

College Chaplian