Judge or Discern

In theology class this morning, my professor outlined the difference between judgment and discernment. Historically, I leap to judgment in my observation of other people--kind of like a shark that bites without knowing what the prey will taste like. It's an everyday problem, as I notice odd quirks and patterns in the students migrating back and forth across campus. It's a problem because I don't stop at noticing.

The opportunity to judge or discern presents itself when we see someone's faults. Responding in discernment requires an internal attitude of compassion towards the person, whereas responding in judgment renders a verdict over the person under scrutiny.

Obviously, this next leads to Elizabeth Bennet with whom I seem to share a propensity to observe and sentence those around me, or as Darcy puts it, “‘willfully misunderstand them.’” Learning the art of scrutiny from Mr. Bennet, Lizzy derives amusement from making sport of her neighbors. However, she is critical of Darcy’s similar tendency to pass verdicts on those around him. The story becomes comical and ironic as both characters judge each other simultaneously.

But their respective verdicts are altered through learning humility from one another. Darcy realizes value in the people he regarded so harshly. And Elizabeth is disillusioned about her powers of judgment when her knowing Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham reveals that her initial impressions are not so dependable as she previously assumes.  

So I think what I learned from theology class and Pride and Prejudice is to turn potential judgment into compassion and concern for the other person and a call for self-examination about my own faults and tendencies.