Growing up, one of my favorite cartoons was "Thundercats". A race of cat-like humanoids is all but eradicated by the evil Mumm-ra and the surviving members are lead by Lion-o. He carries and wields in times of trouble the Sword of Omens. When he needs to see a situation more clearly and gain greater insight, he holds the sword aloft and declares, "Sword of Omens: Give me sight beyond sight!"
What this cartoon taught me at a really young age is sometimes we don't see life clearly. This has helped temper some depression I have had of late in terms of how family and former friends see me. When I came out, some of my family and friends acknowledged immediately I made a very difficult choice punctuated by some positive and negative decisions, but ultimately chose a path truer and healthier than I had previously. Some of my family and friends were upset and confused by my decision at first, but as they have talked to me and monitored my "new life" they, too, have come to understand why I did what I did. And others, no matter how hard I try and no matter the dialogue I try to encourage only see me as a failure, a sinner, a deviant and a bad father.
If my own situation has taught me anything it is to truly not judge someone else's choices and circumstances. At almost 40, I am just realizing how truly critical I have been regarding others' lives. I have spent almost 30 years as a professing Christian, and yet, I really have done a poor job of seeing others the way I think Jesus would.
My hero, Leonardo da Vinci, summed it up best:
"There are three classes of people. Those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see."
I don't have a Sword of Omens, but I do hope I can be someone who sees clearly, especially when it comes to my assessment of others.
