Article December 11, 2000 Issue

Peaceful coexistence with my roommate

By Clifford Kapps Eriksen

WHEN I was a college freshman, I had a lot of trouble adjusting to my roommate. I liked him, but his habits could be infuriating. His sleeping hours, the music he listened to—everything began to bother me.

Yet I knew that judging people is wrong. I believed in what Jesus taught: "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Jesus strongly recommended not finding fault with others while overlooking your own shortcomings. He also said, "Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" (Matt. 7:1, 3) The contrast is between a tiny splinter of wood and a whole plank. In modern language, he might well have said, Before you judge others, take a long, hard look at yourself!

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