“When you see a man led to prison say in your heart, ‘Mayhap he is escaping from a narrower prison.’ And when you see a man drunken say in your heart, ‘Mayhap he sought escape from something still more unbeautiful.'”
-Kahlil Gibran

Gibran is one of my all time favorite poets. As I reread his words this morning I was struck by how easy it is for me to stand at a distance and make judgement on another’s situation or actions. For better or for worse. Unless I go and ask the person directly, all I have to base my perceptions on is what I see and hear from afar.

As a follower of Jesus my role is not to observe from a far, especially when my heart talks to me. Jesus did not judge the sinners from a way off distance. He came and took on the flesh of men. He came and ate with sinners, talked with them in order to ask them questions.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3)
Why are you so afraid? (Matthew 8:26)
Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4)
Do you believe that I am able to do this? (Matthew 9:28)
What do you want? (John 1:38)

So many questions, so little time.

In His service,
Keith