I like the story of the lady who, looking out of her kitchen window, told her husband that her neighbour’s washing wasn’t very clean. A few days later, she repeated her comment and asked her husband if she should talk to her neighbour and recommend using a different washing agent. The husband wisely responded that perhaps she should wait.
A few more days passed before the same lady remarked that the neighbour’s washing looked so much whiter and asked her husband if he thought it was the result of using a different agent. The husband replied, saying. “No, it was because I cleaned our kitchen windows yesterday.”
I recall being on a training course, some years ago, and the problem for discussion related to a member of staff who consistently arrived for work five minutes late. The question was asked, “What would you do if you were her manager?” Almost without exception, the group of 12 would have called her into the office, given her a verbal warning, and advised her to be on time in the future. The instructor then told us the circumstances behind the late arrival, and most of us sat there, feeling embarrassed that we hadn’t investigated the reason.
Taken out of context from John 21, I was challenged by a question and answer from verses 21 and 22. When Peter saw him (John), he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in our concern for other people, please keep us from making wrong assumptions, especially when we do not know the facts. AMEN