On Saturday evening my son and I were waiting in line at a restaurant take-out. It was jam packed. There was a man, who didn’t look happy about being there, talking to his wife on his cell phone. “But I already placed the order and there’s a long line-up; I’ve already been here for 20 minutes.” He ended the call rather abruptly.
An older gentleman was standing close by, “Need to change your order, do ya?” The other man responded, “Yeah. You know what they say, ‘life is short but marriage is long,’.”
I heard that comment along with several other people. I think I was probably the only one who didn’t find it funny. When leaving the restaurant, my son mentioned that he rather likes overhearing the different conversations people have. Big mistake – I had my own comments to make about that one in particular. My son gave me this confused look and said, “You’re judging him, aren’t you?”
I was charged and convicted before making an appearance in court. My son was right. I had stood in judgement. I was slighted by that man’s. It reminded me of similar comments my former husband used to make. I thought I had forgiven him completely. It was clear that I hadn’t. I had committed a felony offence – two in fact.
I was arraigned on Sunday morning. The charges: one count each of judgment and unforgiveness in the second degree. I plead guilty because I knew I was. I threw myself on the mercy of the Court. I was asked to allocute.
“Your Honour, I admit that I was wrong in judging this man. I admit that I still had unforgiveness in my heart, although I was unaware of it, it is no excuse. As I judged this man, I know that You have every right to hold me accountable and judge me.”
The Judge spoke: “I find the defendant guilty on all counts. However, her sentence has already been served; My Only Son – her Advocate – has already served it. It is this court’s ruling that an absolute discharge be granted.”
I know that I will likely end up in the same Court, before for the same Judge, time and time again. But the fact that my record has been purged means that every time I find myself before His bench, He remembers not my past.
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us,” Psalm 103:11-12.
