Ask questions and investigate before you judge and draw conclusions.  I learned this in classic almost laughable fashion this past Sunday.  The pastoral team at my church went on a field trip.  We went and visited a church in an effort to dispel some myths that we are a reclusive people and also to understand some things as far as liturgy [not doctrine] goes.  The people at this church were extremely warm.  We were greeted at least twice before we reached the door.  By the time we were ushered to our 3^rd row seats, my cheeks were actually somewhat tight from all the smiling in response to all the bright and beaming smiles thrown my way.  I must say that in 30 years of church attendance in my own denomination, I had NEVER experienced such warmth.  Let that be an indictment to the people of God. 

Anyway, upon taking my seat, I noticed that there were only 7 people in the entire audience that looked like me including the 3 that were with me.  Well the praise and worship team got up – on time – I might add, and they struck a note of praise to God.  As their praises went up and out, so did my spirit as I am one who believes music in the worship setting should be exceptional.  Everything was lovely.  That day the church was commemorating the 10^th anniversary of the events of 9/11.  They honored local first responders at some point in the service and all was lovely.  When the pastor came up and did his welcome, he called for everyone to find someone to hug, greet, and shake hands with.  I shook several hands and greeted several more.  And then something happened.  I turned around and extended my hand to the woman seated directly in back of me.  She had on shades for some reason.  She looked at my hand, then back up at me.  I extended my hand a little closer and she turned her head as if to look away.  “Wow!” I thought, “  Really??? You really ain’t gonna shake my hand???  This can’t really be happening… In a church though?!?  Is this 2011, or is it just me?”   You have to keep in mind that this is the South and so that’s where my mind was going.  For the rest of the service, that slight burned me up.  I dusted it off, but it still rested in the back of my mind. 

I mentioned it to no one in my group.  After the service, two of us went to another church member’s house to watch what was supposed to be a competitive football game on opening day but the Steelers didn’t hold to their part of the deal.  I did text a friend about my incident at the church and we joked and made light of it as she offered some comic relief with her hilarious and outrageous solutions of payback.  Finally I mentioned it to the elder I was riding with.  He laughed and said, “Oh, she was blind!  You didn’t see her walking stick?”  I couldn’t help but hang my head and laugh – laugh at myself for where my mind went.  I had assumed that this was a woman who didn’t want to associate with me and still had that old-school southern mindset of superiority due alone to color of the skin.  I had condemned her and all it appeared she stood for in my mind.

We draw conclusions and make judgments based on appearances.  And we do it in many different areas.  We draw conclusions about people and about situations.  We draw conclusions about the actions (or lack thereof) of girlfriends and boyfriends or potential girlfriends and boyfriends.  We draw conclusions and make judgments about athletes and politicians, about whole ethnic groups, or religions without ever asking questions and turning aside and investigating for ourselves.  Usually, this leads to distrust and mistrust and uneasiness about everything other parties do or say.  But the word tells us,