She is a faithful member and I can usually spot her in the congregation because she sits in the same area most Sundays. Today I saw her sleeping during the sermon. Why was she sleeping? I don’t know. Maybe it was a boring sermon or the topic didn’t interest her. Maybe she hadn’t slept well Saturday night. Perhaps the past week had been busy and she was exhausted. She could have been feeling under the weather, but came to church anyway. Maybe it was just one of those times when she simply couldn’t stay awake. It happens!
Years ago I realized that when I look at the congregation on Sunday mornings, I don’t know all that is going on in their lives and I shouldn’t make uninformed judgments if they are struggling to stay awake. We just never know the reason and, therefore, judging them is wrong.
During dinner today, my daughter-in-law told me about a blind African American man she cared for at the VA hospital where she is a nurse. He has lived more than nine decades, having served his country in the military as young man. He was not born blind. His blindness is the result of a beating he endured years ago at the hands of the KKK. She mentioned that hearing his story impacted her, changing her perspective on some things.
Perhaps listening to another person’s story, especially if that person is a different color than us, would be a good way to celebrate the MLK holiday this year. When we get to know someone better…when we hear their story…it usually makes us a better person…a kinder person. It might just change our perspective about some things.
Whether it’s a faithful church member caught sleeping during the sermon or an elderly black man who can’t see, there is much more to their story than we know when we first see them. Maybe a little less judging and a lot more understanding would be a good thing.
Pastor Steve Hogg
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