Shade Tree Wisdom 5/9/08

I started out this morning wearing a light jacket, came back and left the jacket at home. It was warm and sort of muggy. I noticed when the temperature touches 90 the weather people call it HOT. Less than that, it’s just warm.

So warm and muggy, and I met one of the scholars with his right arm in a cast. Put two and two together and think, “Aha, he got that in time to miss his tests.” So I asked. And he told me he had finished the tests before he broke his wrist. And he added, “fortunately.”

How quick we are to jump to conclusions, to judge, to make assessments when we don’t know the facts, or even when it simply is none of our business.

God’s commandment tells us “do not bear false witness against your neighbor:” There it stands. Be kind, be gentle, be honest, and, most of all, “put the best construction on everything.” Paul’s advice here is this about love. It “bears everything, believes everything, hopes for everything, endures everything” 1 Cor 13,7.

One time The Lord Himself offered to give Solomon whatever he wanted. And Solomon asked for this: “Give your servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil”. 1 Kings 3,9.

That’s all part of it. To be able to judge correctly we need to have the facts. But more than that, we need to “put the best construction on everything”. We’d say today, be sure to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Well, it turned out all right, but did you notice my first thought was negative when I saw that cast on the right arm. That is a tendency we all have because of the sin that ensnares us. I had better learn again that phrase in the Catechism, learned so long ago, “And put the best construction on everything.” Practicing that makes for better relationships and a happier living. And, maybe best of all, one doesn’t end up with egg on the face so often.

GPD 5/9/08