Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 4:8 

 

We spend an enormous amount of energy making up our minds about people. Not a day goes by without somebody doing or saying something that evokes in us the need to form an opinion about them. We hear a lot, see a lot, and know a lot. The idea that we have to sort it all out in our minds and make judgments about it is an idea we are born with. The ancient fathers said that judging others is a heavy burden, whereas being judged by them is a light one. Once we can let go of our need to judge others, we experience an incredible freedom. We are free to receive mercy, for Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy’ (Matthew 5:7). Most of us aren’t aware of how deeply rooted our prejudices are. We’ve convinced ourselves that we relate easily to people who are different from us in color, religion, sexual orientation, or lifestyle. But the truth is, our spontaneous thoughts, our uncensored words and our knee-jerk reactions reveal that our prejudices color everything. Strangers (people different from us) stir up fear, suspicion, and hostility. They make us lose our sense of security just by being ‘other.’ What’s the answer? When we understand God’s unconditional love for us, and begin to see those ‘other’ people as equally loved by Him, we can remove the barriers and begin to build bridges – bridges over which we can walk to share God’s love, and enjoy His family.