JUDGE THE SHOE YOU WEAR.

The easiest thing in the world for any human to do is to judge. In my little experience and observation of human relationships, it is so notable that every human assumes quickly the position of the critic that can expertly identify faults intrinsic in another and sufficiently assuming the expert in revealing flaws in others. For many of us, we prefer analysing the lives of others, and where they have fallen short, we point out. It is so easy to dissect shortcomings of others and assume a position of the immaculate judge. What amazes me is that we forget that the flaws others exhibit, are similarly a trait in us, if not yet exhibited. Essentially, while we try to remove the spec in the eyes of others, we forget the plank in our own eyes.

When we accuse an individual of a thing, we are quick to condemning such person, propounding various reasons why they had perpetrated the contemptible acts and the punishments justifiable to them. We often forget to consider the skeletons in our own cupboards and subsequently, we ask for ‘Banabas’ to be set free while we ask for the condemnation of Christ because we know the habits of Banabas are at the peak in our lives. Rather than be truthful to ourselves and adopt the reasonable man’s test, where we consider what our reactions could have been under similar circumstances, we quickly jump at transferring the burden of guilt to the one exposed.

Where am going with this is that we can never know the reasons why others do what they do except we have been put in those positions to face the same challenges they faced; consequently, take the decisions they resulted to before we can confidently judge their decisions. Just as being, a virgin does not mean one is a saint, so does being a prostitute does not insinuate that the woman is evil or amoral. We cannot decipher the things that men do with the mere eyes, or ordinary sense of judgment. We require a critical microscopic evaluation of each act or omission by assuming the same position those accused were in. Many times, the act of men although terrible with negative consequences, is initiated with the most sincere and noble motives. However, on the other hand, a perfectly executed good deed is sometimes, conceived with the cruellest intentions. Essentially, we cannot judge an act just by its outcome.

More importantly, we are in no real position to judge another simply because that, which we use in judging them, is the same adopted yardstick used to judge us too in hundred folds. I remember always wondering what Jesus scribbled down on the floor that made the persecutors of the woman caught in the act of adultery drop their stones; until pastor Tunde Bakare shed more light on it when he said: Jesus wrote each time each accuser had committed the same offence, which left them terrified. In addition, by the time he was done, no one was standing. The startling thing about this story is how they would have gone on to take the woman’s life because she was caught committing the act, yet conceal their own secrets of the same offence they judge for.

It follows therefore that it is only reasonable and honourable to judge the shoe we wear. One can only understand where the shoe pinches when worn. It is fundamentally wrong to assume a position that we have no requisite understanding. Most importantly, we must resist the urge to condemn others for that is the easiest thing to do. We must realise that faced with the same scenarios and with vast options, our reactions might be more astonishing. It is our resolve to condemn that makes us monstrous and unrepentant charlatans presenting a saintly appearance when our threads of existence are nothing but cruel. So who are we to judge the shoes we do not wear?

ADEKANYE ADEYINKA OLAJIDE.