Judgement or love? What are my default settings?

This morning I find myself wondering where my heart starts as I engage the world each day. Do I begin with a heart that is open and offering grace and understanding as I come out of the starting blocks or am I looking to find a “hook to hang” an experience or relationship on? Am I looking to sort things that lie before me into neat piles of good and bad, godly or ungodly, lovable or unlovable?

My belief is that God’s stance is always loving, accepting and tender. Instead of standing at the door quickly sorting his children into lines of sheep or goats, success stories or works in progress… I find myself hoping he is the latter. I find myself hoping that he is a God who is willing to LISTEN to our hearts, and eager to guide, and not judge. Something in my heart opens up when I think of this kind of God, meeting me in my need rather than sorting me between piles of wheat or chaff. Instead of directing me to take a number and find a seat; he focuses on my need. So how can I do any less for others? How can I not enter into other’s stories? To be willing to set aside my plan for the morning and treat others not as a project or an item to be checked off my to do list, but to make them feel seen and heard. This seems to be my greatest need; to be truly seen….And perhaps everyone else’s greatest need as well. May be so today… And every day.

What about you today? What are your default settings?