I Was Wrong
Lessons from a Sandhill Crane
I thought I was seeing a funky-looking stork on a golf course in Florida. A quick bit of research revealed that it was a Sandhill Crane. Its legs were long and gangly, its body seemed heavy. Nothing about it suggested flight. If someone had asked me in that moment whether that bird could fly, I might’ve laughed and replied, no way. It simply didn’t look built for the sky.
I judged wrongly, though, because they absolutely can fly. Sandhill cranes’ wings stretch nearly seven feet across, and apparently, they’re prolific travelers of the skies. I felt a little goofy for having misjudged this awkward-looking bird.
Romans 14:13 (NIV)
“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”
What I learned about that crane reminded me how easily we make incorrect assumptions about others’ capabilities. We glance at someone’s circumstances, personality, past, mode of dress, hair color, tattoos, socioeconomic background, education, ambulatory status, (insert your personal prejudice here), and decide what their limits must be.
Read that scripture again. Our judgment can put an obstacle in the way of others reaching or serving Jesus. Not a thing we want to be guilty of!
Where are you judging someone’s story or capacity before you’ve seen the full design?
From my heart to yours,
Kelly