Giving Up Judgment for Lent

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37 NIV)

So here we are... Lent.  Did you give up something this year?  Chocolate?  Wine?  Sodas?  Fasting is good for the soul, but sometimes I think the things we choose to give up are more about trying to quit bad habits rather than to sacrifice in order to get closer to God.  Quitting bad habits is good. But maybe we should reflect on the purpose of Lent.  Is it about ourselves or about God?

There was an interesting Facebook "share" that went around this past week about "20 Things to Give Up for Lent."  It suggests things like: guilt, fear, worry, shame, etc.  These things are far more designed to bring us into a closer relationship with God, although, I was really surprised at one that wasn't included - judgment.  We judge so quickly these days.  We judge without thinking about what that person's life might be like.  We never know if the rude cashier just found out her mother has breast cancer.  The driver that flipped you off may have just been asked for a divorce.  The beggar in the street may have spent all his money on medical bills for a sick child.

When we give up judging, we automatically take on compassion.  When we are compassionate, we are able to forgive more easily.  It takes practice.  And we must start with these smaller examples like the cashier or driver or beggar above.  Then we can move on to more serious things that hurt us or others.  Compassion and forgiveness does not mean that a person must not face consequences.  But it helps us to love them in spite of their actions and to maybe get involved in helping them through their consequences whatever they may be.

We are all in this life together and we are here to help each other through it.

Compassionate God,
Help us to give up judgment this Lent and forever.  Amen.