October 6, 2020 (Tuesday)
Doris Day was quoted as saying, “My [public] image, I can assure you, [is] more make-believe than any film part I ever played.”
A recent article on the internet detailed how her public image of a happy-go-lucky all American extremely talented girl hid a personal life with many sad moments and disappointments.
I suppose that if we knew all the intimate details of the lives of others we would be much more understanding of their attitudes and actions. We tend to judge other people by whatever interactions we may have had with them. The truth, however, is that in all likelihood we don’t really know them.
I remember a devastating hurricane hitting the northern Gulf coast, destroying property and devastating lives. I remember also reading a preacher’s sermon placing blame for the destruction and death on the sins of the people hurt by the storm. When I read what he had to say, I thought of what Jesus said (Luke 13) about such things:
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, preached on this text, commenting that when tragedy befalls, we should be compassionate toward suffering people, realizing that the same things, or worse, could become our own lot in life. Accidents happen. But even if others are suffering for their sins, we have enough sin in our own lives to be concerned about, and unless we repent, we may suffer similar consequences.
A sign on the telephone in a certain house says, “Help me not to criticize another until I have walked a mile in his shoes.” The Bible is clearer: “Judge not, lest you be judged.”
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
Bobby Scott and Bob Russell
1969
The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I’m strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We’ll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
If I’m laden at all
I’m laden with sadness
That everyone’s heart
Isn’t filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
It’s a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we’re on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn’t weigh me down at all
He ain’t heavy he’s my brother.
He’s my brother
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.