I'D MADE IT. JUST CHOSEN AS A MIDDLE INFIELDER on a prestigious men's softball team in Vancouver, British Columbia. In the next three years the team would go on to become one of the top-ranked teams in North America. What a ride in front of me. Judged worthy—at least worthy as a softball player.
But even though the judgement call worked in my favor that time, being judged has always bothered me. I always felt uneasy acting as others expected me to act, or, conversely, being criticized for the choices I made. And the other side of the coin—my being judgmental of others—felt even worse. As a life-long Christian Scientist, I knew that each of us is the image of God. I also knew that a person's true individuality and uniqueness isn't determined by other people's opinions. After years of being healed through prayer of numerous illnesses and injuries, I was ready for a deeper examination of this aspect of Christian Science. If right thinking could heal my physical challenges, why couldn't it harmonize my mental discomfort at judging and being judged? As usually happens in life, opportunity stepped onto my path.
Let's go back to that day I made the cut for the team. The management took me down to the field to introduce me to the other players. That's when I met him—a center fielder named Rod. He was a large man with a thick black beard and a set of dark eyes that glared at me. And no—not even a "hi" was offered up. I soon found out from my teammates that intimidation was his way of communicating. OK, I thought, this is my chance. I could finally confront this troublesome concept of judgementalism. I decided right then that I didn't need to give in to the negative first impression I was forming. Instead, I could seize the opportunity to let prayer guide me.
