Diary of a mad, fat, bipolar woman #4

By DYANNE DEERING

What makes this woman MAD? It’s easy. It’s when we take it upon ourselves to judge other people.

I’ve touched on it before when I have talked about the misconceptions on voluptuous people, but we are always judging people. THERE IS ONLY ONE JUDGE. That judge is GOD.

I see it and hear it all of the time. “She is really skinny, she must use meth” or “she’s really skinny, she must be anorexic.” It could be that she has a really high metabolism or that she has a tumor on her thyroid. Have you stopped to ask her if everything is OK? Have you said “Sue, I have noticed you are really thin, are you doing OK?” No, I doubt that you have, because we all think that we know everything about everybody and that we are always right.

How about that guy who is always dirty and does most of his “work” at night when we are all asleep? What is thought of him? Probably something like, “Oh he’s probably manufacturing and using meth. That’s the only thing that could possibly explain why he’s always up at night, and he also must steal because he always has a bunch of stuff in his vehicle.” Could it possibly be that he is always dirty because he hauls off your junk that you don’t want to deal with. Could he possibly be doing most of his work at night, because everyone is calling him throughout the day asking for his help to fix something or find something they need and don’t have the money for. Could the reason that he has all of that junk be because he and his friends fix that junk for people who can’t afford to buy replacements, once again doing it for free? Maybe try asking him what he has going on, instead of judging him. Maybe try having his servant heart.

How about the homeless person on the street? How are they judged? They must be an alcoholic, or drug user. Could it be that the PTSD he has from being in combat and fighting for our country has made it too hard for him to work? Could it be his social security wasn’t enough to pay his mortgage and he lost his home?

What about that crazy guy that you see from time to time who’s behavior just gets more and more erratic? The thought? He must have gone nuts. It can’t possibly be that his behavior has changed because he has Dementia or Alzheimers. Maybe he needs his medication adjusted or didn’t have money for a refill.

Casting Crowns has a fantastic song that has come to mean a lot to me. It is called “Jesus, friend of sinners.” The message is amazing and I think everyone who has ever judged anyone should listen to it. The first verse says this “Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away. We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing. Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth’s become so hard to see. The world is on their way to You but they’re tripping over me. Always looking around but never looking up I’m so double minded. A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided.” Then it goes on in the chorus to say “Oh Jesus, friend of sinners. Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers. Let our hearts be led by mercy. Help us reach with open hearts and open doors. Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours.” My very favorite line is “Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who’s writing in the sand. Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands. Help us to remember we are all the least of these. Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees. Nobody knows what we’re for only what we’re against when we judge the wounded. What if we put down our signs, crossed over the lines and loved like You did.” I guess what I am trying to say is, why don’t we put down our stones and open our arms to those around us, rather than looking at someone who is not “normal” and judging them. We should all coming together and helping those we may otherwise judge.