Why Shouldn’t I Judge Others When it Feels So Good?

       It is hard to learn something, but it is often harder to “unlearn” something. A good friend of mine, Joe, once told me about “unlearning” how to play the violin wrong. He was a child prodigy from Providence. His parents scraped money together to send him to Boston to study under the Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony. Having auditioned, the concertmaster told him the following, “You show amazing promise. However, to learn to be a great violinist, you must first unlearn everything you have learned to this point. Think about this for a week, and let me know by next week if you want to study under me.”

       My friend said he was devastated. However, having talked it over with his parents, he took the challenge. He “unlearned” his bad habits and became an outstanding violinist. Among his many accomplishments, he became the Concertmaster for the Providence Philharmonic, the first lead violinist for the Broadway play “Fiddler on the Roof”, and the founder of the Providence Youth Symphony.

      Like Joe, we need to “unlearn” something. For us, it is judging others. Jesus tells us to first “unlearn” judging and then we will be able to forgive the way that God wants us to forgive. I invite you to consider a person or people you judge. Now, pray this prayer, “God, help me not judge _________________.” Say this prayer every day until you have let go of the negative thoughts and feelings you have. You will be amazed that God will begin to replace those negative thoughts and feelings with His unconditional love!