Poor Judgment’s been slandered, accused and maligned,
As if using good sense were a terrible crime.
“Don’t judge!” say some people. “Be spiritual instead!”
Yet without a bit of judgment, we’d all bump our heads.
We’d wander through life like a cart with no wheel,
Or smile at a snake while ignoring how we feel.
If somebody’s actions annoy you to bits,
Or tempt you to launch them into garbage pits,
Don’t pretend you’re enlightened and floating above,
While secretly simm’ring and calling it love.
If you’re mad, then you’re mad. It is simply a fact.
The question is not that—but how you’ll react.
You needn’t stuff turnips in anyone’s nose,
Though heaven knows sometimes the temptation grows.
Instead, ask yourself why this thing caught your eye.
What value, what boundary, what truth passed nearby?
Often our judgments are signals and signs,
Like little red flags on emotional lines.
The danger begins when we bury what’s real,
Denying the thoughts and the things that we feel.
For lying to yourself is a troublesome game;
The body keeps score, though the mind shifts the blame.
We weren’t born to conquer emotions and hide.
We were born to experience life’s changing tide.
So, notice your feelings, then choose what is wise.
Let truth clear the fog from your heart and your eyes.
For people who silence what bothers them most
May resemble a vegetable more than a host.
And if they persist in pretending they’re fine,
They may start to resemble a fungus with time.
Reflection Questions:
Do you think judgment is a good or bad thing? How do you use yours?
