Every Thursday I feature a “throwback” post from my blog archive. The goal is to look back and discover new lessons or opportunities to grow. This week, we’ll look at “Nothing is Wasted” You can view the original post here. For today, here’s a quick recap and a few more thoughts about our appreciating the season you’re in.
It’s been over ten years since that trip to New York and my first, and only, broadway experience. I can still remember the sights and sounds of that theater. I remember the lights dimming to let everyone know it was time to take their seats. I remember the music kicking on to start the show. I remember the moment when the big reveal happened and we are reminded that things aren’t always as they seem. Finally, I still remember cargo shorts guy rolling in like he was showing up to a backyard corn hole tournament.
It’s funny the things we remember sometimes. The guy wearing cargo shorts shouldn’t have affected my experience in that theater at all. Unfortunately, I let him become a distraction to the great things that were happening right in front of me. I would think something like “Wow, that song was incredible. I should also try defying gravity just like Elphaba. Too bad for cargo shorts guy though, he’ll be weighted down by all of that cargo.” I’d watch Fiyero run around the stage and instead of being all into the moment, I would think, “I bet cargo shorts guy can’t do that in those flip flops. He’d definitely roll an ankle.”
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Does this sound ridiculous yet? Here I am sitting in a historic Broadway theater watching one of the most iconic plays of all time and instead of maintaining the wide-eyed wonder the show deserved, I’m busy judging some dude who just wants to watch the show*. It is at this moment that I realized, I am in the middle of a real pot and kettle situation. I am judging this guy for not “respecting the show” based on his chosen attire and yet here I am not giving the show the attention it deserves which is… disrespecting the show.
Isn’t it so easy to find faults in other people and overlook our own? I am the king of this move. There are so many things that irritate, annoy, or just “irk” me in others that I let slide when I do them myself. I am so quick to call out my family for being short with me but am quick to be short with them when things don’t go my way. I lose my mind when people cut me off in traffic. But when I do it to someone else, it’s a noble cause because I have somewhere to be and that destination is obviously of the utmost importance*. The point is, it’s easy to see the specks in others and disregard the planks we’re carrying.
Here’s what Jesus has to say on the topic: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:1-5)
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I don’t know about you, but for me, that stings. I look at that passage and think, “Wow Jesus. Hurtful. Accurate… and hurtful.” It’s so hard to admit our flaws and faults. We want to be these completely put-together models of perfection in every area of our lives but the truth is we are all sinners trapped in a broken world in need of a constant supply of grace and forgiveness. In these situations, I find myself often identifying with the Apostle Paul when he says, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Tim. 1:15).
Here is another trustworthy saying, we are all sinners in desperate need of grace. I am thankful that Jesus came to earth full of grace. Enough for you, enough for me, and enough for cargo shorts guy in the theater*. What if instead of judgment, I recognized my own need for grace and in turn, extended it to those around me? Where could you use a little grace today? To whom can you give a little more grace? Let’s be like Jesus and give out grace by the truckload.
*It’s entirely possible that this guy didn’t want to be there and was dragged there by his wife but let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Come on people, give the dude a break!
*I had a great discussion about this with my friend Steven on the This Awesome Life podcast. You should check it out!
*I’m certain that guy needed grace for something, he is a human. But, I must finally admit that wearing cargo shorts on Broadway was not likely one of those things.
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