There’s Judge Marilyn Milian, Judy, Joe Brown, Mathis, Hatchett, Karen and Alex. All qualified to make a decision based on the charges and the evidence before each of them on their respective court shows. Their duties include examining the evidence and looking at the law to see where there is an infraction, based on the charges before them. Occasionally they find evidence of violation of laws not outlined in the pending case. While they have differing styles and ways of communication they share the duty of making the plaintiff whole; putting them in a position similar or equal to where they were before the infraction or dispute occurred.

It looks so incredibly easy on television. Some cases are heard and closed within about ten minutes. We don’t see all of the stops and starts during taping, which are edited out for airing. We miss the research that goes on behind the scenes for various specifics in the law. We miss all of the years of education the judges acquire to earn their Juris Doctorates. We miss the years they served as attorneys, law clerks or who knows what to get to their position behind the bench. Most of the time, these judges are able to evaluate the behaviors of those involved in the cases that are on their calendars, make inferences and deduce whether or not there has been a variance from the written statute or the spirit of the law. They are trained to look at the behaviors of those involved and be objective arbiters that expeditiously bring justice to all parties. On occasion they will even add a little advice for future reference – like Judge Joe with his, “…protecting womanhood and promoting manhood”!

How are you at being a judge? Are you able to look at your behavior, be objective and see if you have upheld the law? Are you well practiced in looking at yourself, looking at the law and making a determination where you align with that measure and where you fall short? Have you studied, and do you continue to study the specifics of the law and see how it applies to your situation? Are you able to observe your behaviors and evaluate the spirit of the law?

Your job, and yes part of your purpose is to judge yourself; as is mine. In the book of Romans, chapter 14 the Apostle Paul talks about judging. My mother used to say, “Every tub sits on its own bottom”. I think that is what Paul was saying in verse 12 that reads, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (King James Version)

In Luke chapter six we get more clues to how we are to react to our brother (or sister) once we address ourselves. We are also told about being able to know a tree by the fruit.

Much like those considered professional judges in the courtroom look at the behavior of the individuals they interact with, we are to look at behaviors or fruit. In that same way we can decide if we care to have a certain character trait or behavior in our lives. We get to choose whom we relate to as friends, those in our inner circle. It does not mean that we have a lack of love for someone because they are not part of that inner circle.

Just as someone that enjoys flowers can have a great fondness for orchids, as I do, and not mean anything negative about hydrangeas. We can love our neighbors without having a desire to spend all of our waking hours with them all. We can enjoy the company of some and have less enjoyment being with others. We still have the capacity and command to love them all. Based on their fruit we get to choose the types of relationships we have with them – in love.

Others get to choose the types of relationships they have with us too. We will not always be their orchids. Our time is better spent relating to them from a distance if that is more loving for everyone concerned.

Take Inventory and Take Action. Are you examining your behavior? What does your fruit say about your heart? Do you look at others in judgment or do you look for compatible fruit?

We are to use wisdom and discernment. Frequently we look beyond those flashing, neon, feelings we get in our gut when we see fruit that is unpalatable. Only to discover later that we did not love ourselves by accepting the fruit, which turned into a rotten relationship.

You be the judge are you loving yourself? What does your fruit look like?

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”