Freedom from judging

 We have almost completed making our way through the list of 12 signs of a spiritual awakening (which are listed at the end of this reflection). Today, we will consider two of them:

9. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

10. A loss of interest in judging others.

When we begin to awaken spiritually, we become more aware—not at the faults of others but rather aware of those “hidden faults” of our own referred to in Psalm 19, in which the psalmist admits to a certain blindness about his own situation: But who can detect all his errors? –and then he prays, from hidden faults acquit me.

Herein lies the type of work we need to be doing in order to lay aside any tendency whatsoever to shine the spotlight on the supposed faults of others. It is important to remember that just as “spiritual awakening” is a process, so too is the increase of personal awareness which leads to an inevitable openness, patience and compassion towards others as judgment ceases. We develop a profound respect for the mystery of another person. We become more aware that we are hardly ever aware of the burdens another person may be carrying or the struggles they are enduring.

It would also be helpful for us to realize once again that, just because we think something is true does not automatically mean that it is true. Our thoughts about others need to be surrendered (and even confessed) to God’s greater wisdom while we humbly hold in prayer those whom we may be prone to judge.

Be aware. Catch yourself judging or interpreting. Cultivate your personal relationship with God, and in His light let your (usually) false judgments be dissolved. Leave the judging up to God along with his mercy.

You will find yourself enjoying greater peace of mind. Inevitably, our own judging and interpreting does nothing other than trouble our own spirits. It has no effect in reality unless we choose to act on our judgments and usually false accusations.

Seek the peace which God offers to you at all times. A peace that is found in a charitable forgetfulness of things which used to preoccupy us before our spirits began to awaken.

God bless you.

12 Signs that you are undergoing a spiritual awakening

1. An increased tendency to let things happen rather than to make things happen.

2. Frequent attacks of smiling.

3. Feelings of being connected with others and nature.

4. Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

5. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears based on past experiences.

6. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

7. A loss of ability to worry.

8. A loss of interest in conflict.

9. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

10. A loss of interest in judging others.

11. A loss of interest in judging self.

12. Gaining the ability to love without expecting anything in return.