When the “white man” came to America, they were met with a people and a lifestyle that was simple and in tune with nature. Many of these Native Americans never completely learned to understand the white man’s ways. They would ask questions such as; “How can we buy and sell the earth?”, “Why would we kill an animal unless there was a need?”, “How can we inherit something that belongs to nature?” Many of these people lived by this philosophy, “We do not inherit from our parents; we are caretakers for our children.”

As a child, my father played and fought with Indians who camped on his family’s farm. As a young man, my father farmed with Ponca Indians near a town in Oklahoma called Ponca City. It was from my father that I first heard the proverb, “Never pass judgment on others until you’ve walked a mile in their moccasins.”  I haven’t always followed his advice; however, As We Do Life® has helped me reflect. I don’t know whether Native Americans struggled with this issue, but I do know ‘passing judgment’ on others is everywhere in our society today.

Just think, if you wear your hair a little different, your clothes are a little wild, you have a tattoo, you have piercings, you’re on welfare, you’re too thin, you’re too fat, you are rich or you are poor, someone has probably made a non-complimentary remark about you – and probably behind your back. I haven’t even gotten to the really judgmental issues like religion, politics, and sexual orientation.

What causes us to pass judgment on others? I don’t know. Maybe it’s insecurity. Maybe it’s to ‘fit in’. Maybe it’s just not thinking.

I suspect passing judgment was a problem with the Native American or this proverb wouldn’t have been needed. From my perspective, I don’t like myself when I have judgmental thoughts or make judgmental remarks. I believe the flaw is in me and not in the person I’m judging. More often than not, I’m finding that if I will just take time to get to know another before I think or voice a judgment (walk a mile in his moccasins), I will avoid falling into this trap.

Doug
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