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This thought seems to be a little contradictory, but it’s true. We look at the world through self-colored lenses. We see what we want to see. We are rarely, if ever, entirely objective as we look around—or within.  Rather, perhaps even always, we see things not as they are, but as we are. And that means, among other things, we have to be a little cautious about judging others. We don’t know their whole story; even those closest to us are mostly mysteries. Yet we do judge, all of the time, and the words of The Sermon On The Mountain are always necessary:

 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged, for you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.  “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?  Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. "

No surprise that when we judge we may err in two directions. On the one hand we look for and find the worst in others; on the other we look for and find the best in ourselves—worst and best, defined, of course, according to our current needs and interests. We are always well aware of the limitations, the flaws of others. Less so of ourselves. And very conscious of our strengths and virtues. Less so of others. 

It is an old story, the old story. It is the story of humanity. The words of Jesus are always necessary.