Heather King offers a simple lesson on judgment:

The surest way to stop judging everyone around us is to take our own moral inventory. Looking at our resentments, secrets, and fears will give us so much material to work with we won't have time to nose into other people's business.

I judge others for the simple reason that I refuse to face my own woiunds. I ignore them; I fight them; but I will never accept them. And in doing so, I am ultimately rejecting a part of myself.

No wonder peace is so elusive.

But if I can learn how to accept my wounds--my shame, my self-loathing, and my insecurities--I will learn how to be free to love.

Holy Desperation by Heather King (Loyola Press, 2017) — *Holy Desperation* by Heather King (Loyola Press, 2017)

Ponder the following Scripture verse until your mind and body are fresh, calm, and free:

"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged." (Matthew 7:1)

Review your day for moments when you felt disturbed, afraid, angry, anxious, or hopeless. As they come to mind, focus on the details of the moment. What were you doing? Where were you? Who was with you?

Focus on one moment in particular. Accept your feelings from this moment as they are. Do not explain, dismiss, or justify your feelings. Let them be. Hold them with compassion by observing these feelings without judgment.

Bring this moment before the Lord. Show him your wounds, and let him show you his. Allow his grace, his love to flow into you through your wounds.

Look toward tomorrow; how might you be more accepting of yourself? How will showing yourself love, mercy, and compassion help you accept others without judgment? Ask the Lord for the grace to accept yourself and others as you are.

Close with a simple Amen.