In The Line Of Fire

**Photo courtesty of google.com**

In this movie, Clint Eastwood's character, Frank Horrigan, plays a Secret Service agent in charge of protecting the personal safety of the President of the United States. As the story unfolds, Frank becomes the target of an ex-CIA assassin, turned would-be killer, who wants to take out the current president.

This foe taunts Frank with detailed information from his past including a failed attempt to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, whom Frank was assigned to protect early in his Secret Service career.

As this dramatic thriller comes to a close, Frank successfully thwarts the assassination attempt and the target is removed from Frank's character and reputation, along with the assassin. Frank is, again, known as an agent of honor and integrity.

Do you ever feel like you're walking through life with a bullseye on your forehead? That you're being shamed, judged, or gossiped about by others without ever understanding why? There have been many times in my life when I have been misunderstood. When a look on my face seemed to translate into a negative disposition to others, without them ever saying a word.

When non-malicious behavior, on my part, was deemed overtly malicious by someone who never asked a single question. It was extremely disheartening for me to find out that my attitude, personality, and habits were being formed by others who had not only never talked to me but who never knew me.

For whatever reason, the person never took the time to engage in a conversation with me and really get to know me. To find out how I tick, what my facial expressions truly mean, and what motivations lie behind my actions.

So, how can you find out who someone is and what lies behind their serious face? Conversation. Whether in person or over the phone, you can get to know a person pretty well and their demeanor, feelings, motives, and personality.

In a short period of time, you can find out what prompts that person to anger, disinterest, or indifference. Next thing you know, the person you used to target with your bullish words and gossipy ways, turns out to be a pretty decent human being. You have become friends with someone who is incredibly cool and it's all because you took away the veil of your own judgement and adopted an accepting attitude.

There is a book in the Bible called Matthew and in chapter 1, verse 7, it says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." (NIV) Wow. That's pretty harsh, isn't it? Not really because what goes around, really does come around and Jesus knew that better than anyone. That's what His perfection and divine knowledge were all about. He could always call things out that other people never saw.

I used to be a person who judged others negatively and what I put out, eventually came back onto me by others judging me unfairly. So the next time someone tells you not to judge a book by its cover, take it to heart before making your next move.

Encouragement for the week:

Have you ever been unfairly judged, feeling like the bullseye on a target? It can be intimidating, disheartening and hurtful.

It matters that you're understood and not unjustly viewed through a skewed lens. Though others may judge you, don't let the pain of their untrue assessment stop you from reaching out to someone you may have judged in the past.

If you are a Christian, the words of Jesus should be a stark reminder of how we should be conducting ourselves as His followers. Be a person who takes the time to get to know someone who is different from you for they may not yet know about Jesus.

If you are not a Christian, you can look for Jesus and find Him. He holds no judgement toward you. He loves you and wants you to experience an abundant life without judgement toward yourself and others.