Viewpoint from Hazel Thackray 10/03/2023
 Hazel Thackray
Authorised Worship Assistant, St Mary Magdalene Church, Gorleston
As I write this, we are looking towards Lent — a time when we prepare ourselves for our Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection. It is a time when many of us try to deny ourselves from things that we enjoy---chocolate, a drink, shopping etc. Have we ever thought, not of giving something up that we enjoy, --a tangible experience, but something less so?
Many years ago, my Mother suggested at her church that “gossip” should be given up. It went down like a lead balloon, and of course was never followed up. It has always stuck in my mind --- I knew what Mum meant, was thinking, and realised why she never went to coffee mornings at the church---we always shopped that day
 Idle chat has a lot to answer for. As we sit with friends and chat and gossip, we inevitably talk about others who are not there. This may not be malicious or derogatory, unfriendly or ill meant, but, someone may go away with completely the wrong idea, and spread the word, in their terms of reference --- not always correctly. None of us know the whole story of another’s life and circumstances. It is easy to judge on a few hearsay remarks --- but who are we to judge --- what do we know, really?
When the Lord judges someone, He knows everything about that person. His history, ancestry, background,-- everything! What do we know? We only have a superficial view of a person’s life and lifestyle. What do we know really? We base our judgement on our own beliefs and ideals. Jesus said, “Judge not, lest ye be judged” as a gracious warning --- if I start playing judge, jury, and executioner to people, I’m going to find myself on the business end of my own standard! That is a frightening prospect! If we judge, we should do so with compassion — a judgement tempered by the love of Jesus
 If we, as Christians, judge people harshly - knowing that we ourselves are not perfect - as no one is — only our Lord Jesus Christ was perfect, we are not being true to our Christian beliefs. How can we condemn someone for something --- a speck in their eye, when we have a whole log in ours!! Maybe Lent, shouldn’t be a time to “give up” something, but it should be a time to look seriously at ourselves, and what we are
Are we just like the Pharisees, putting on a show, letting others think that we are Godly, perfect, and doing all that is correct, all that is required of us; or are we really trying to be Christ-like? To be more like our Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour?
We have a lot to live up to,-,something we can never achieve, but we can try, every day, in many small ways, to improve ourselves, and those around us, by how we behave and act
Let us this Lent, not think about what we can give up, but what we can do to help bring about the wonderful world, that Jesus wanted for us all, and died to bring about
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