So here's the line that's going through my head: In this life, we will not see others at their best. I don't think it's a quote. It's just been floating in my head.
This line is not meant to extinguish the faith you have in the good of humanity. It is meant to remind you that this stage of our eternal lives is the place where we will learn how to be our best in the life to come. It is the place where we prove that we can continuously improve, and that even if we have setbacks, we can pick ourselves up again and get back on that straight and narrow path. Cling to this knowledge when you doubt yourself, or even when you doubt others.
If we don't even know what our best is yet, how can we expect others to be their best? In the past few weeks, I've observed many people (including myself) expecting people to be better than they are and/or have been. I've seen and heard people judging others without the necessary information to make a well-informed judgment (and in all honesty, the Lord is the only person who can make a good judgment about a person, because He's the only one who knows the whole context of that person). I've seen and heard many people who have been offended because others have judged them. This offense is partly created by the offended not forgiving the offender for being human and making false judgments. (I'm not entirely sure how to explain this dynamic of judging and offense, but I hope that you can all think about what I have said and hopefully it will make sense.)
I say this with a cloud over my own head, and I say it hoping to inspire others to accept people as they are: sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. We make mistakes. Sometimes we learn on our own. Other times, we need certain experiences to learn from. If you know someone who is going through one of these experiences and is clearly not at their best, be sure that you don't cast the stone if you yourself are a sinner. Every time you point your finger at someone to judge them, you have three fingers pointing right back at you.
Everyone is here to solve their puzzle. It's a hard one, and some people can't try to solve it during every waking moment of their lives. If we criticize people whenever they attempt to solve their puzzle, like a Rubix cube, then soon they will stop trying because there are far too many wrong turns to take, and they are tired of trying to no avail. It doesn't help people to make them feel like crap, and if you make them feel like crap by judging them, you will be at least partly responsible if they give up.
Focus on the good that people have to offer and accept the fact that people, like life, have bad that comes with the good. Be a good example, and be open to learn from them, because I believe everyone has something to teach us.
Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving
