Matthew 7: 1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
While visiting family in California, I honestly came with a pretty “judgey” attitude. Everyone I talked to in Ohio would joke about how sad and messed up California and its people are. They would laugh and wish me good luck, like I was going to one of the worst places on earth. This along with my own assumptions automatically put a negative connotation of the state in my mind. It’s truly a really sad perspective to have when visiting a state I honestly knew very little about. While visiting, God revealed just how pathetic and shallow I was being. He helped humble me by introducing me to some thoughtful Californians. I remember an instance where I was walking into a gas station to get a drink, when I ran into a guy who was looking in the same area I was. He waited patiently for me to move out of his way and after he grabbed a drink, I was curious of his choice and asked him about it. He could very well have just blown me off and ignored me, but he didn’t. He took time to explain to me the different types of teas and which ones were his favorites. He seemed to be a really nice guy and it was something small, but it opened my eyes to how pitiful my view of California was. All of this has been a humbling time for me. I’m grateful for these opportunities and glad I got to experience California even in the midst of my derogatory thoughts. Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy and God bless California!
