I grew up a Cleveland Browns fan. Save your sympathy. I am still sort of a fan, but it’s hard to be “fanatic.” (For those of you overseas from here, that is a team that more-or-less plays American-style football.)
When the team re-started after the owner moved them to Baltimore, the owners hired a succession of people who supposedly knew the sport and players to run the team. 24 quarterbacks later (over 18 years), they still have not picked one who is talented enough to play at the professional level.
The point is that even experts in a field cannot judge talent before hand.
How often do we pre-judge others? How often are we accurate?
All the time. And, seldom.
Yet, we still do it. It’s a rush to apply a label so that we know how to deal with the person.
We see a man with neatly combed hair, dark suit that fits, white dress shirt, and necktie. We meet a young woman with tattoos up the arm. Five piercings in each ear and a piercing through the nose. Unkempt hair.
Which is the person who can’t be trusted?
Actually, my guess goes toward the guy who is probably either a lawyer or politician 😉
We don’t really know, do we? Not until we talk with them. The preposition is with, not at.
One of the things I learn from Jesus, whom I follow and try to emulate, is that he gave people a chance to show themselves. He knew a lot about types of people. But he seldom said anything until they spoke and revealed their hearts. Then he would comment, help, or turn away.
There are so many things we prejudge. And so many ways we are wrong. About people. About talent. About schools to attend. About jobs to take or churches to attend.
Awareness of our weakness is the first step toward true observation.
