We're not really good people

Do we actually get it?

Maybe because my mind works in a linear way sometimes—which is why I haven’t been able to put up anything else till this was out of the way, even if there are others that seemed closer to readiness. It’s the same way I post old pictures before a new one can go out, don’t blame me 😭

This has been pressing in my mind for a while now. We’re not as good as we think we are. Well, maybe for some of you who think you’re a “very good person.” We tend to judge people, compare, and sometimes even make things difficult for others because we don’t truly know them.

I’m not excluding myself from this at all. I’ve done the same—I didn’t go through the same traumatic experience someone else did, and yet I put them under the same lens as myself when it came to certain things.

Similarly, I’ve had this done to me. I wasn’t able to be physically present at a gathering and I was castigated for it, despite battling stress at the time. Nothing I said made sense. I’m not going to lie, I was very pissed about that experience because I tried to explain, but my efforts were futile. I let it go eventually, because why not?

That experience opened my eyes to something salient: there is a lot going on inside a person that you will never have the privilege to know. Even if you do have that privilege, if you didn’t experience the same thing, you can never truly relate.

My bro, My sis, if you didn’t go through that same experience, you don’t truly understand.

This reminds me of something I heard Dr. Myles Munroe talk about in his “Influencing without Imposing” message. He told a story of someone who didn’t believe in God anymore because of the experiences they had growing up. His response was:

“If I had the same experience you had, I wouldn’t believe in God either.”

They became friends, and the person eventually became a believer as well.

Even though I think we really aren’t “that” good, I do believe God is working in all of us. We need a daily renewal of our minds. If someone who is always showing up for people suddenly decides to take the back seat, instead of castigating them, ask questions. If they tell you, fine. If they don’t, that’s also fine—just check in to show you care.

Not everyone is the same. Just because one person is “handling it” doesn’t mean someone else can, because they are completely different people.

Don’t make assumptions for people. This isn’t just for my readers; it’s for me. I’ve made these mistakes and allowed my privileges to cloud my thoughts.

We can all do better.