Who Am I to Judge

In the early 1990s, our church had just moved into a brand-new building.  Around the same time, a nearby church burned down. Its members, rather than rebuild, joined our congregation. That’s how I met JD, someone I will never forget.

JD wasn’t someone you’d overlook, but he was someone I had underestimated.

We formed a mixed slow-pitch softball team, not a great team, but a fun one. JD, who couldn’t run fast or throw far, became our pitcher. Ironically, he was one of our best players. We weren’t playing for trophies; we were playing for laughs. JD fit right in.

JD was…different. He wore a tie to church every Sunday, and that tie wore breakfast like a badge, eggs, jelly, honey, and mystery stains. He was playful, joyful, and incredibly welcoming. Before the service began, he’d walk around greeting people with a radiant smile and a handshake full of life.

One Sunday, I was at the back of the sanctuary, joking with my friend Bert. We were laughing when he suddenly got quiet and asked, “I wonder why God put JD in my life.”

The question hit me like a thunderclap. My laughter died. In that instant, a flood of emotions overtook me: shock, guilt, shame, humility. How could I have missed it? I had judged JD for his quirks and dismissed him as odd when, in truth, he was teaching me something vital: compassion.

That moment cracked open a blind spot I didn’t know I had. My own heart had been narrowing, guarded by a quiet arrogance. JD, in his messy tie and unfiltered kindness, had been living the Gospel far better than I was.

Since that day, I’ve carried his memory with me, especially when I feel tempted to judge. Every time I encounter someone I don’t understand, I try to stop and ask, “Why did God put this person in my life, and who am I to judge”?

Two powerful questions changed the way I see and love others.

Watch for the blind spots.  

---

Great leaders understand their blind spots—do you? Blind Spots in Relationships is your guide to unlocking self-awareness and building stronger connections. 💡 Get a copy today. 📚http://tinyurl.com/yc3usfsp