Skip to main content

Never Judge

This is an old but very touching story that has been on the internet and chain e-mails for a while.  I am not sure how many of you have read the story, but here it goes:

A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call ASAP, changed his clothes & went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy's father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor. On seeing him, the dad yelled:


 "Why did you take all this time to come? Don't you know that my son's life is in danger? Don't you have any sense of responsibility?"

 The doctor smiled & said:

 "I am sorry, I wasn't in the hospital & I came as fast as I could after receiving the call...... And now, I wish you'd calm down so that I can do my work"

 "Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do??" said the father angrily

 The doctor smiled again & replied: "I will say what Job said in the Holy Book "From dust we came & to dust we return, blessed be the name of God". Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go & intercede for your son, we will do our best by God's grace"

 "Giving advises when we're not concerned is so easy" Murmured the father.

 The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy,

 "Thank goodness!, your son is saved!" And without waiting for the father's reply he carried on his way running. "If you have any question, ask the nurse!!"

 "Why is he so arrogant? He couldn't wait some minutes so that I ask about my son's state" Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.

 The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: "His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son's surgery. And now that he saved your son's life, he left running to finish his son's burial."

We are all quick to judge.  I, too, am guilty as charged. For instace, I see a pedestrian crossing the road with mindless disregard for incoming traffic and I think to myself, "What an idiot!!! Does he/she want to die??! Get a grip, I do not want blood on my hood!!!". 

Thinking back now, perhaps the idiot just lost something - job, a family member, his/her life's savings, who knows?  Maybe that is the reason for the mindlessness.  And maybe, just maybe, he/she really just wants to die.  Then there is this self-righteous, all knowing idiot behind the wheel who thinks he knows better -- that anything or anyone not falling within his perfect life specifications is considered stupid and ignorant or just plain inferior.  And to demonstrate his superiority, this idiot behind the wheel would honk the horn with much gusto to draw the mindless idiot's attention and rub his idiocy to his face! 

Such is a classic day-to-day scenario of people judging people.  The idiot in the view of the self-righteous man behind the wheel, who looks like an idiot himself in the eyes of man in the car just right behind him.  And the judgment chain goes on and on, til you lose focus on who the real idiot is.  In the end, all those who decide to join in the daisy chain ends up being an idiot himself.  Now think about that scenario happening at least once every minute in a random spot in the world and we can safely assume we live in an idiotic world.  It is all because we humans are judgmental.

So the next time you feel like losing it when you see someone doing something seemingly stupid in your eyes, instead of tapping into your superior all-knowing side, extend a friendly smile and a give out a kind and tolerant gaze.  Maybe it will make someone's day a little brighter and make the burden they carry a little lighter.  Of course it does not guarantee that the person behind you doesn't see you as an idiot (specially if it is me behind you) but at least you did your part in transforming the world into a better place.

Okay, okay, okay... I know I am babbling again...  But remember, you shouldn't judge! ;)

Comments

Post a Comment

What people are reading...

Philippines Withdraws from the ICC

Woke up today to the news that the Philippines is finally pulling out of the ICC. The mainstream media, as expected, started looking into the legitimacy of the act while taking the opportunity to once again throw the EJK trash in the equation, still hoping that the shit would stick somewhere, somehow.  It's already been 19 months that they have been trying the same approach, with some help from their friends - the political minority, the human rights groups, the UN HR, and lately, the ICC.
Post a Comment
Read more

Saint Valentine's Day

It is the time of the roses and the chocolates once again.  It is the "season of love"; that one day in every year, where all lovers and friends go coucou finding gifts for their "Valentine".  It is also the time where the flower, chocolate and teddy bear merchants as well as hotels and motels owners and operators are on full grin!  It is the time where the prices of commodities associated with "love" go sky-high. What really is this phenomenon that is Valentine's Day?  Read on...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Year Resolutions

Another year is over. Before the hands of time struck the final minute of 2012, we all had a clear vision of what we wanted for our 2013 -- the so called "New Year Resolutions". Some made a promise to live healthier e.g. lose weight, stop smoking, etc. Others have more abstract resolutions like, "will be happier", "will smile more", "will be more sensitive", etc. And there are others like me with a very simple resolution, go on a "no rice diet". In the business lingo, this goal makes a lot of sense because it is SMART (S=specific, M=measurable, A=attainable, R=relevant and T=timely). There is no way this cannot succeed as it makes for a perfect goal. However, there was a big flaw in the plan -- as the clock struck twelve, I had my right hand flexing its muscles with a spoonful of rice. Need I say more? To make long story short, I was doomed to fail from the get go. And so I welcomed 2013 with a broken promise.
Post a Comment
Read more

How the Poor Live

One day, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad.” “Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked. “Oh yeah,” said the son. “So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have wall...
Post a Comment
Read more

Desiderata

The word "desiderata" is the plural form of the word "desideratum", a Latin word which literally means "something desired". I came accross this beautiful work as a teenager and it has greatly influenced and shaped how I see the world.   *** DESIDERATA by Max Ehrmann, 1927 Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender  be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly;  and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant;  they too have their story.  Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.  Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession...
Post a Comment
Read more

Acts of Kindness

He was driving home one evening, on a two-lane country road. Work, in this small mid-western community, was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac. But he never quit looking. Ever since the Levis factory closed, he'd been unemployed, and with winter raging on, the chill had finally hit home. It was a lonely road. Not very many people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfill. But he stayed on. After all, this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country. He could go down this road blind, and tell you what was on either side, and with his headlights not working, that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down. He'd better get a move on. You know, he almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front...
Post a Comment
Read more