The most scary profession one can ever choose is that of a judge. Just imagine! We are all aware, in our heart of hearts, of the various misdemeanors we would have committed. We would have felt lucky in getting away with the act. Yet after a few days, we would have totally forgotten that we had ever done such a thing. And in the course of life, when we hear of a person unfortunate enough to be caught in an act which seems to be a grievous mistake, we hasten to condemn him so uncharitably, that to an eye-in-the-sky it appears rather scary. Just recently I had to 'forgive' a person for a so-called mistake. And I admit that what I wrote didn't seem to come from within me, but it did definitely come into my awareness. This is what I wrote:
In the event that someone may be feeling terribly guilty of certain actions that have unfortunately happened in the past, I wish to present a piece of very valuable advice that I received many years ago, when under similar feelings of self-doubt, I had expressed myself to him in anguish. Wise as that man was, he had said “Don’t you feel guilty about that! When that action had happened, there was an inordinate need for you to act like that, and very likely, anyone else who had identical circumstances, would have perforce acted in an identical way!”
Many times actions happen over which we seem to have little control. Even if the person were never caught, he may never have done a similar thing again! My nephew once asked “What’s your opinion of Polanski?” I told my nephew some positive things in reply. “But he is a child molester!” my nephew shot back. Then I had to tell him that he is not only that. He is also a talented film director, maybe a father, a husband, a friend, maybe a benefactor to someone; a person, who as a small boy had suffered the trauma of a Nazi taking a random pot-shot in fun at a concentration camp (he had run away in terror). He is so much else! He is perhaps also a child molester – something we are not sure he would have consciously done again (maybe he feels tremendously guilty). So also with Shiney Ahuja and with Anand Jon. He may never have done it if that moment of weakness had passed away quickly. Scary to imagine that they are sentenced to over 60 years in prison. Then again, there are many of us who are moving about, with who knows what actions on our conscience!
Interesting to read Gandhi’s autobiography, where he boldly talks of his many misdeeds. But then, has he revealed all? For he says quite candidly (in the Introduction to his Autobiography) “…my experiments have not been conducted in the closet, but in the open; and I do not think that this fact detracts from their spiritual value. There are some things which are known only to oneself and one’s Maker. These are clearly incommunicable.” Could there have been many more uncomfortable truths? Just reflect on this. And realize that all is forgiven, for not all that we do, are fully under our control.
WONDER HOW THEY DO IT !
When we realize this, it is really scary that judges have to pronounce verdicts, and often sentence convicts to various periods of imprisonment - sometimes ranging to several years, totally destroying the life of a person, and sometimes even to death! Yes, it is scary - knowing that each of us, including judges, is positively guilty of some misdemeanor!
xxx
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