It’s so easy to be tempted to judge, isn’t it? Last night, my wife and I watched the 1955 version of Oklahoma. I had two major observations from the movie:
- My mother learned to sing from Shirley Jones because she loved the movie and when my Mom sang, she sounded just like her.
- It is so easy to judge others, even fictional characters
Mom and Shirley Jones
I grew up with my mother singing The Surrey With the Fringe on Top. She sang other tunes from the movie, I’m sure. But that is the one that sticks out to me. She is a big fan of Rogers and Hammerstein musicals. After all, one of my earliest memories is of my parents taking me to a drive-in to see The Sound of Music. I don’t remember much except the opening scene and how comfy the back seat was for a long nap.
My mother loves to sing. And besides hymns, her repertoire included a heaping helping of Rogers and Hammerstein tunes. During a certain time in the sixties, she would also pepper her performances with The Girl From Ipanema.
Too Easy to Judge
I found myself judging the Curly, Laurie and Jud from the moment I saw them. I suppose that is a main objective in any play, movie or TV show. If you don’t know who the hero and the villain is from the outset, the show may fall flat. Yet, when we are led to believe a character is a hero, only to discover they are a villain, we are even more glued to a show.
We are prone to judge characters in a show. But aren’t we also apt to do so in other circumstances?
- How many times do we judge someone we never met, but are in the news?
- Don’t we judge others because of their appearance?
- Doesn’t gossip color our perception of someone? Does it matter if we know them or not?
The movie reminded me of how tempting it is to judge others we barely know. It can also ruin or close relationships when it leads to criticism. No wonder Jesus warned us about the trap of judging others.
“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.”
Matthew 7:1–2 (NIV)
Yes, everyday we are tempted to judge others. I shudder everytime I think I could be judged by the same standards I judge others. I hope Curly, Laurie and Jud will forgive me.
