“It’s not what you look at that matters…It’s what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau  

It would be impossible to live life void of any judgment or desire.  Making definitive choices and judgments about what direction to take or what seems best and right in the moment is a natural part of living.  As well, when we aspire to fulfill our dreams or hope for a better tomorrow, our desires become a positive, motivating force that keep us moving forward in our journey here.

But when do we cross the line with our judgment?  When does discernment become more about being right or justified?  At what point does it mix with arrogance and condemnation?

When do desires become more destructive than helpful?  When does a future desire give birth to dissatisfaction and frustration in the present moment – creating more suffering then optimism?

How We Judge

In today’s world, our ability to judge is connected with our freedom of expression.  If someone is judgmental, we tend to view it as their right to speak their mind.  In fact, people actually brag about “telling it like it is.”  Of course, the “is” isn’t necessarily based on fact or truth – it’s simply their personal judgment about “it”.

When we judge, we subconsciously place ourselves in authority – giving us self-proclaimed power to determine what is right and what is wrong.  In essence, we kick God off His throne and arrogantly take His place.  A judgmental attitude is centered in pride and egotism – two destructive forces that can destroy our lives.

Society makes generalized judgments – often steering people down thought processes that are far from correct or healthy.  Whether you realize it or not, every day of your life is spent in a state of self-judgment – based on the judgments made by society.  Society tells us what size we should be, what we should eat, what we should wear, what kind of job we should hold, and the kind of wealth we should possess.  It dictates what is “right” and what is “wrong” and often we judge ourselves based on this false standard.

You see, my friend, judgment leads to more judgment.  When we are judged, we tend to judge back.  When we begin to judge, it eventually turns back on ourselves in the form of self-judgment.  In a behavioral study conducted by Wake Forest University in 2010, it was found that individuals who have judgmental tendencies often hold negative opinions of themselves.

Can you see the suffering and dissatisfaction that judgment instigates?  Judgment breeds comparison, competition, and condemnation.  It’s why Christ urges us to eliminate it from our lives:

“Stop judging others, and you will not be judged.  For others will treat you as you treat them.  Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged.” – Jesus speaking in Matthew 7: 1-2 NLT

“Therefore let us stop passing judgments on one another.  Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” – Romans 14:13 NIV

When we eliminate judgment, we embrace traits like mercy, grace, and kindness – ensuring these become the standards we ourselves are measured by in the future.

In the Tao Te Ching, Lao-tzu writes, “The sage has no fixed mind; he is aware of the needs of others.  Those who are good he treats with goodness.  Those who are bad he also treats with goodness because the nature of his being is goodness.  He is kind to the kind.  He is also kind to the unkind because the nature of his being is kindness.  He lives in harmony with all below heaven.  He sees everything as his own self – he loves everyone as his own child.” – 49^th Verse of the Tao Te Ching

Where are you currently crossing the line when it comes to judgment?  What areas of your life require more open-mindedness, more goodness, more kindness – becoming more aware of the needs of others?

What We Desire

Hopes, dreams, and desires are all critical ingredients to a life filled with excitement, anticipation and expectancy.  But when you think about the nature of desire, it sprouts from roots of discontentment and dissatisfaction.  When we desire more or desire something different or better, we are in essence saying the present moment or circumstance isn’t good enough.  Life is lived out in the present moment, so at a certain point, desire can lead to disappointment, despair, and suffering.

The Second Noble Truth of Buddhism (Samudaya) places desire at the very heart of all the suffering we experience in this life.  When you think about it, any desire or longing cannot co-exist with feelings of contentment, peace, and satisfaction in the current moment.

I have personally crossed this line in my own life – allowing my desires for a better future to cloud my current perspective and enjoyment in the present.

This is why the Apostle Paul urges us to be “joyful always, pray continually, and be thankful in all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV).  An attitude of gratitude in all things has a way of keeping our desires in check – not allowing them to cross the line into discontentment and discouragement.

When it comes to how we judge and what we desire, the key is handing both over to God – the just Judge and the loving Source of all the blessings we experience!

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” – Psalm 37:4 NLT

“When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats.  Instead, He entrusted himself to Him who judges justly.” – 1 Peter 2:23 NIV

God is indeed the only one who can judge any one and any situation with justice and accuracy.  He is the only one who knows and understands the deepest desires of our heart and has the power to bring them to fruition.  Take delight in His righteousness, fairness, and mercy!  Take delight in His unconditional love – ready and capable of meeting all our wants and needs in a way that is truly best for us in the long run!

I pray you think hard about your own life and the potential lines that can be crossed with judgment and desire.  I hope you can clearly see the dissatisfaction and suffering that accompany both if taken to the extreme. I pray you give them both to God – resting confidently in His love and righteousness!

God Bless!