I see you snigger as you walk by. Yes, you, the person who just passed me. Your beautiful face drawing smiles of admiration. Your shining golden tresses bouncing gently as you walk elegantly along, in heels that threaten to tip over, yet somehow make you seem poised and graceful. You take elegant strides and are gone, as you turn away from my pain, my heartache. Of this cold park bench, winter's cold chill covered by my shredded dusty blanket. My face lined with the creased wrinkles of a hard life, tears welling in the corners of my weary eyes. Do you see my pain? Do you care? Will you pay me another thought?
Have you ever caught yourself thinking thoughts like: "Oh my gosh, look at her!? What is she wearing!? That dress looks ridiculous!?" Do you laugh about others with your friends? Gossip perhaps? Consider this: Who laughs at you as you walk past? Who judges you negatively? Is it your friend at work? You know, the person who pretends to like you, the one who will never tell you what she really thinks, who always seems too busy to join you for coffee? As you laugh at others, others may laugh at you. "Judge not lest ye be judged" are powerful words that Jesus spoke. Stop teasing. Stop mocking. Just worry about yourself. Let others be.
I believe teasing and judging happen, in our thoughts, in what we say, in how we look at others. We give labels to others. It is a reality. I believe it is a form of discrimination. Why do we allow it? Catch your thoughts when you think something negatively about another. Stop teasing words spilling out as they fall from your lips. Change your thinking about others and look for the good in others instead. You might be surprised at what you see. When you see humanity.
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