Ulog No. 19: "Judge Not, that You be not Judged"

Since I didn't have a car, I asked my auntie to pick me up from my home so we could go to church together. We were 5 minutes late. Praise and worship had already started. I'd like to think that the church is a judgment-free place. People should not condemn other people just because they did not arrive at church early or even right on time.

I was also glad that I was able to listen to the Pastor's preaching. Usually, I miss out on the sermon because either I am in kids' church (or Sunday school) teaching the children ages 10 and below or I am absent from church. I'm glad my spirit and my soul were nourished by the message.

After the Sunday church service, the morning tea was served. Church members bring a plate every Sunday and we all share the food together whilst we catch up and connect with each other after the service.

My auntie dropped me off at her other house because my husband, John, was working there. Yes, even on Sundays, he still works. I don't want to judge him, at least, he keeps himself busy when they don't have Orthodox service on some Sundays.

The Greek Orthodox Christian community does not have a priest here in our town so they request from the Archdiocese to send a priest on a fortnightly basis. So this priest from Port Pirie used to come every other Sunday, however, he's almost 85 years old and so to drive all the way from Port Pirie to come here would be such a tremendous effort from him. He no longer does the fortnightly thing. He announced that he would only come on a monthly basis instead.

My husband helps out at my auntie's investment property and he does some repairs and renovations in the house. John is quite a handy man. A very reliable one! He's better than any tradesman. And I'm saying that not because he's my husband, but I know how he works. He is a perfectionist. He'd rather not do a job if he has the attitude of "that's good enough". He gives his 100% on any job because that's his character, his attitude towards work, and that's one of the many things I love about him.

My auntie's property is situated in a place where it is considered as "The Bronx" of the town. Please pardon my use of this term. But that's how they call it here. I don't want to walk by myself in that area for fear that someone might just attack me.

Call me judgmental, but if you're a woman, would you be flustered and get scared when a scary-looking man who had been drinking, even in broad daylight, suddenly approached you and tried to offer you a plate of food? I would. And I actually did.

My auntie dropped me off at the house. She made sure that John was there before she drove off. I gave her a signal that he was indeed home. The next door neighbour was drinking with another guy, and then all of a sudden, when one of those guys (I don't know them at all - first time I had ever seen them) suddenly crossed the small fence which is the boundary of the two adjoining houses.

I was terrified whilst knocking on the screen door. John already saw me by the window as he was installing the Venetian blinds inside, but he didn't come to the door straight away. It took him maybe a minute before he finally opened the door. Then, the guy next door was already trying to approach me and offering me food. He got a plate on his hands. I said, "No, thank you! I'm good." He said, "Come on, you and the bloke inside can have this food."

My heart was racing. When John opened the door, he went back into the room immediately to resume what he was doing. I locked the screen door behind me. The scary-looking guy was still by the front porch offering the food. So I called on John, "Honey, there's a guy here with food." John told the guy through the window, "It's all good, mate!" And the guy went back to his drinking with his mate.

Was I irrational? I am just not used to being approached like that. Plus he's drunk. I could tell by the way he walked and talked. Even when he went back to his front porch, I was still palpitating. I told John that he should have waited until I was completely inside the house knowing that there were two guys drinking outside the house. I didn't feel safe at all. He said not to worry, that that guy who offered food was actually harmless and wouldn't hurt a fly. That he went to school with my sister-in-law.

There I was who had just been to church and yet the sight of drunk men terrified me. I did not want to be judged for being late to church, yet I easily judged someone because of how he looked. I also felt annoyed at my husband for not making me feel safe. He should have just told me to ask my auntie to drop me off at my mother-in-law's house because that's where we were going anyway. Every Sunday, we have lunch at his mother's house and I should have just gone there instead.

My human nature took over and became judgmental of other people because of their lifestyle, their place, their actions and the lack thereof. I could have chosen a different way to handle the situation and not be scared of the person that approached me. I mean, he was offering food. I should have declined the offer politely and should not have dismissed him like he was a leper. As soon as my husband opened the front door, I hurriedly went inside and locked the screen door. I left the man by the front porch and let my husband talk to him by the window.

I felt like I was very rude. But at that time, I was flustered and did not know what to do but my initial reaction was to protect myself. The truth is there was really nothing to be scared of. My husband could see what's going on so there really was no chance for any person to attack me and get away with that. I felt scared and that was how I reacted.

If you were in my situation, how would you feel? What could you have done differently?

Please leave a comment below if you have any feedback. Thank you for reading! God bless you! Bye for now!