Recently, it seems, I’ve heard an amplified chorus of the call to withhold judgment…
“Do not judge, lest you be judged.”
It also seems such is one of the most repeated biblical truths both Bible students and non-Bible students like to proclaim. No doubt the call to refrain from judgment is a wise practice indeed. The loophole, no less, lies in the meaning of the word, “judgment.” Too often it seems we equate the withholding of “judgment” — the rendering of consequences, a condemnation, or an eternal pronouncement, perhaps — with an absence of right and wrong. Let’s be clear: some things are right; some things are wrong; the challenge is that we often disagree on “some things.”
For example, I watched the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team, as they struggled emotionally in their post-game press conference, after being heralded all year as “the team to beat”… with so many saying it was impossible for them to lose… with one former professional coach even quipping that UK could be a playoff team in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. And then Kentucky did the unthinkable; they lost.
Here then were these 19 & 20 year old men, who are supposed to have something to say, albeit arguably just experiencing one of their greatest emotional letdowns of their young lives. Question: how many of us at 19 & 20 had the maturity to handle all things well? … especially with all the world watching?
So it was of little surprise that one player would do something wrong when asked about a member of the team to which they lost. Kentucky’s Aaron Harrison used a crude, racial term to describe Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky, likely believing the microphone would fail to pick up the slur muddled slightly under his breath. Harrison’s behavior was wrong. There is no arrogance in that assessment; there is no condemnation nor feeling that any other is better than Harrison. It is still true that Harrison’s behavior was wrong.
After the conclusion on the NCAA championship, much of the sports world will turn their attention to the infamous tournament this weekend at Augusta National, The Masters. Earlier I witnessed an ESPN commentator talk about the return of Tiger Woods. Woods is returning to the professional golf circuit after a two month hiatus. The question of the commentator was, “Which Tiger will show up?” … the one that dominated the sport for so many years, winning his first major at age 21? … or the one that has never been the same since his four month leave of absence in 2009-2010?
Woods sadly left the sport after very public revelations regarding his multiple, extra-marital affairs while married to Elin Nordegren. Please let no one pounce upon Tiger or rant about his obvious error. But also let no one act as if his error was not obvious. Tiger’s infidelity was wrong.
I found this particular commentator’s comments fascinating because in his posing of the question — as to “which Woods” it would be — the commentator never acknowledged that Woods dominance dissipated when his personal, moral image was pierced.
Granted, none of us need our moral failings repeatedly or disrespectfully rehashed by another — especially publicly — but it’s also ok to acknowledge the existence of moral failings; it’s ok to acknowledge right and wrong.
There’s no automatic arrogance in that acknowledgement. It’s not condemnation. It’s not compassion-less. It’s also not judgmental.
Respectfully…
AR