I like this one for two reasons; the first is because we tend to judge ourselves at our very worst and compare ourselves with those around us at their Sunday best. The second is because of the history of church pews. A long time ago, pews were contracted and purchased individually. They were adorned with family crests and designs. The more wealthy you were, the better your seat. Royalty had seats in the very front of the church. As time went on, you no longer owned your church seat, but you rented it. Depending on what you could afford, your seat could be good or bad. If you had no money, you brought your own stool and sat in the back, or even stood in the back if you did not have a stool.
Today, the pews are not bought, nor the seating assigned, but there are still people who will tell you that you are sitting in "their" seat if you happen to change places by accident. I know that I have struggled to teach my children that there are no assigned seats in church, we sit where ever it is open. It can be hard for them because they all have set places that they prefer to sit.
When I read the quote above, I can't help but think of all the times we judge each other based on what our individual perceptions are.
Do we participate in judging ourselves or others based on what seat we are sitting in? Do we judge someone harshly because they are not in church? How about if their beliefs are different than our own? As for me, I am grateful for our differences. I am grateful that it is not my place to judge. I can welcome all with open arms and a loving heart. I think the Lord will judge us more on how we behave than on where we are sitting.
There is an old song sung by Kenny Rogers that I used to listen to. It is very thought provoking and I think it fits this well. I hope you find some wisdom in it too.
It was an April night and I was right
Then out on the town
The show was at the Palace
So we all went on down.
We all had a ball as I recall
But now it seems absurd
As the madness raged upon the stage
He didn't say a word.
He was a little weird and we all feared
He wasn't one of us
He didn't drink, he didn't smoke
And he didn't even cuss.
You'll see him now and then
With a bunch of men hanging 'round the sea
And I'm sure I would have liked him more
If he were a little more like me.
It was a Spring each day
The clouds were gray
Look like it might rain
We thought about the night before
I was so ashamed.
When I heard what they had done to him
Stranger I have known
But as drunk as we all got last night
It's a wonder we got home.
He was a little weird and we all feared
He wasn't one of us
He didn't drink, he didn't smoke
And he didn't even cuss.
You'll see him now and then
With a bunch of men hanging 'round the sea
And I'm sure I would have liked him more
If he were a little more like me.
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