Posts Tagged ‘judgment’

As humans we have many splendid qualities … and a few failings. One of our less commendable characteristics is a tendency to dislike and distrust people based on surface differences without taking the trouble to learn who they are inside. Even the most reasonable among us are sometimes influenced by stereotypes about race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, political persuasion, and regionality. As a result, we shortchange people we don’t know—and miss the opportunity for interesting and enriching interactions.

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When the traffic light turns green, I’m usually quick to hit the gas and barrel through the intersection. But on this day, for some inexplicable reason, I feel the need to hang back for several seconds. Suddenly, a car runs the opposing red light at high speed. If I’d hurried into the intersection, as I usually did, I’d have been broadsided.

My brother and sister-in-law are heading home from an afternoon get-together at a friend’s house. My brother would usually turn right to leave the development. But on this day, for some inexplicable reason, he turns left—and sees the tornado heading straight for them. He’s able to make a u-turn and get back to the shelter of his friend’s home. If he’d gone the other way, as he usually did, he wouldn’t have seen the tornado that devastated much of the neighborhood until it was too late.

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