Judge less; love more.

Judge less and love more for none is perfect.

It is a general human tendency to judge others. Everyone seems to be the best judge for others; but the worst in their own case. So also each person is the best advocate for themselves; but the worst in other’s case.  We tend not to see our faults, but to judge others for their mistakes.  

We have to start learning to love others. Real love shall enable us to correct the ones we love. What we usually do is we speak out the ‘truth’ (you might have come across people who always claim that they cannot keep quiet when they see others’ faults; that they are straight forward that they cannot close the eye towards those who make mistakes. The strange fact is that they are the most intolerant when someone else points their mistakes).

It is said of a Bishop of Boston: Once while he was standing in his residence with a highly respected man of his diocese; a known drunkard was shouting abusive words. To this, the man standing near the bishop became very judgmental. Then the bishop responded: “I am the one that goes without God’s grace.” We have to remember that however just we are, it is because of God’s grace. We receive His grace because He is empathetic to us. Hence, we have to be empathetic to others.  Empathy can make wonders in others’ lives.

 Ignore the mistakes of others and love them instead.  If you avoid others for their mistakes and if people avoid you for your mistakes, where shall you stand? You will be alone in this world.

THE JOY OF SERVICE

There is none in the world who does not look for ways of joy in life. (May I call your attention to a post on 14^th April 2014. There I have noted about the difference between happiness and joy.)  In fact, whatever we do is to find joy in life. Different people use different means to achieve this but for many it ends with sleepless nights and peace less days.  I had a friend who had a reputable job in a Central Government firm. His educational qualification was such that if he had stuck to it, he would have had all the worldly facilities within a few years. But he left the job and started serving the slums of Mumbai. When I asked him why, he said, “The other job might have given me a fully furnished quarters, chauffeur driven car and a heavy pay; but this gives me satisfaction, sense of fulfillment and joy.”

Albert Schweitzer a theologian, organist, philosopher and physician was a person who found joy in his work in Africa. Many of his friends asked him why he left the lucrative position in the affluent community he was living. His reply was, “We desire happiness and peace and work to achieve it the best way possible.  I derive joy and sense of satisfaction in serving these helpless and hapless people.” It is said that his own brother ridiculed him saying that he shall regret about the decision to go to the primitive culture and he shall be a zero in life; but his persistence made him go to Africa. He received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of "Reverence for Life" expressed in many ways.  The paradox is that Albert’s name and fame has gone across the ages and his brother’s name is forgotten by the next generations.

Whatever we earn in the material world cannot be taken from here and the fate of those is that their name shall be forgotten along with their death. Whatever we give shall be remembered even after our death. Hence let us ask, “What is the legacy I am leaving when I die?” ” 

THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX (Cont.......)

(If you are new to my blog, please refer to my previous post: “Think Outside of the box”)

What are the logical answers and what is the answer as per lateral thinking?

Logical thinking can give us three answers:

1.   The girl should refuse to take a pebble. The result is her father              shall be thrown into jail.

2.  The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag       and expose the moneylender as a cheat. The result shall be the             moneylender shall look for ways to destroy them.

    3.  The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to       save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

The lateral thinking found a solution: The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles. “Oh, how clumsy of me,” she said. “But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.” Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an advantageous one.

Most complex problems do have a solution, sometimes we have to think about them in a different way.