Judge Not

This morning I woke up with judgment on my mind. I was thinking of others who made decisions I would not have made, or had done things in ways I would have done differently. Certainly, I reasoned, my way was right--or at least better--or at least I think it would have been better. But as I ran along this morning, I realized (not for the first time) that I, too, had made many decisions over the course of my life that others would question. For better or worse--but I think for better--I was given considerable freedom to pursue my goals, even whims, with passion. I could choose my profession, where I lived, my beliefs, how I raised my children, and how I spent my time and resources. Because others withheld judgment, I was free to do things according to my own signature pattern--a combination of personal and professional choices that looked different. To me, that combination has been good and satisfying. All this was possible because others judged rarely and loved liberally. Herein is a lesson to learn and then relearn.