Yes, I am quietly judging you.

I recently attended an event that was hosted by a local neighborhood group. The event itself was no big deal - just some neighbors getting to know each other in an informal setting. At one point a "regular" in the group said something offensive about another member, right to his face. When I voiced my opinion about what was said, this individual dismissed me by turning to his friend and saying, "That's ----'s daughter." His friend's view of me was tainted, based on something that I could not have any control over.

I had just been judged.

It hurt to be judged harshly, especially when the one judging hardly knows me. I felt as though this man had no intention of connecting with me or learning anything about me as an individual. I was "guilty by association." Guilty of what, I don't even know.

Yes, I am quietly judging you.

Judgment based on outward appearances or isolated events can skew what you believe a person can or cannot do. A recent example of this is Britain's Got Talent runner-up singing sensation Susan Boyle. Whodathunk that this frumpy-looking 47 year old woman could become an overnight global singing sensation? Even the panelists

Image by shelteringskies via Flickr - Susan Boyle's inner beauty

judging the competition admitted that their first impressions were wrong. As Boyle introduced herself to the judges, you could see Simon Cowell bracing himself for a miserable performance. In the end, the dreaded Cowell was dreadfully wrong. As GBT judge Piers Morgan told Ms. Boyle after her audition,

"Without a doubt, that was the biggest surprise I have had in three years on this show. When you stood there with that cheeky grin and said, "I want to be like Elaine Page," everyone was laughing at you. No one is laughing now."

The inner beauty, value and potential of a person has little to do with outward appearance. We are taught this in 1Samuel, when God tells Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to anoint the future king of Israel. As Jesse's sons are brought before Samuel as "candidates" for King, God cautions Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1Samuel 16:7)

God looks at the heart. We all have outward circumstances for which we all deserve judgment. But if God didn't look at the heart, I don't think that He could love us as He does. If Jesus didn't look at our hearts he would never have gone to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. It's that love for us that allows us to be in a relationship with God.

If only we all could look at the heart instead of judging based on outward appearances or circumstances. We might hurt each other less, and love each other more.