WALKING MY BROTHER’S MILE

It has been said in many lands, in many languages, written in poem and sung in song, but the first time I remember hearing the phrase was in the trial scene in the movie ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ If I close my eyes I can still hear the words of Gregory Peck echo back to my ears in his resonating tones; “you cannot judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.”

Growing up it seemed to me I was forever receiving mixed signals on the matter of judging. I was told to judge where and with whom I would go. I was to make judgments between that which would edify and that which would tear down. It seemed wherever I turned I was hearing people tell me to make good and proper decisions about almost everything.

Then there were days when I would return home from Sunday School where I had received an animated lesson about the evil involved in making judgments.

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (Matthew 7:1, 2)

When I was out with my friends and they were about to get themselves involved in an activity which I considered to be contrary to everyone’s betterment they would remind me that it was not my place to judge. I think I remember having used that line a time or two as an excuse for entering into a few things which I knew to be wrong.

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: (Luke 6:37)

I seldom was with adults when they weren’t spewing out judgments with every new scene that came into view. They seemed to be especially judgmental about people or the decisions and efforts people were making. Their condemnations ran through the range of politicians to preachers, from public servants to the poor, from constructors to demolishioners, from neighbor to stranger. If one listened long enough every talent and trade, every thought and action, all things moving and motionless were brought to task with the sharp judgments of their tongues.

Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. (James 4:11)

It was comforting when my gospel understanding expanded a bit and my understanding of judging was broadened somewhat. It will always be a truth, that a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. I spent some meaningful time pondering such passages as:

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (1 Corinthians 6:2)

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24)

Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again. For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all. (Alma 41:14, 15)

It was especially gratifying when I was introduced to the Inspired Translation by Joseph Smith of verses in the beginning of Matthew chapter 7.

Now these are the words which Jesus taught his disciples that they should say unto the people. Judge not unrighteously, that ye be not judged; but judge righteous judgment. (JST Matthew 7:1, 2)

There it was! The confusion was gone. We indeed were to make judgments, but they were to be done in righteousness. I was to make judgments, but only righteously. Without belaboring the concept too much, I have come to the conclusion that if I am to judge and do it righteously I was going to need a lot of help from a source with greater understanding than I possessed.

The need for the guidance of the Holy Spirit was never felt with greater force. The need to gain greater understanding of my neighbor’s walk was never needed more.

The solution seemed to be two-fold I had to live to gain greater help from the Holy Spirit and I had to more diligently apply that that which still sounds in my ears when I close my eyes and think of that scene in the movie

To Kill a Mockingbird, “you cannot judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.”