Expectations

I'm continually surprised by who I find myself liking and who I find myself disliking, who I find myself respecting and who I find myself losing all respect for and whatnot.

Today on the radio I heard that some survey alleged that over forty percent of the "Occupy Wall Street" protesters said that they thought America was "just as bad" as Al Qaeda.  Now, I completely disagree with that sentiment, don't get me wrong.  However, I thought about what reasons they might have for feeling that way.  I also recognized that it takes a bit of bravery to say something like that when you live here.  (If you say it in Iran, no big deal, but in America it's not all that acceptable.)  So while I tend to disagree with the Occupy Wall Street folk, I have a certain degree of respect for them.  At least they're standing up for what they believe in, which is something a lot of us never really manage to do.

As another example, I find myself losing respect for people that I used to really look up to.  Supposed "pillars" of the church who stand as moral examples tend to disappoint once you get to know them.  Sure, they testify to the love and forgiveness of Jesus on Sunday morning, but when they get home to their own families or dealing with someone they have trouble getting along with (funny how those two seem to go together) there's no love and forgiveness, but instead there's anger and condemnation.  Didn't Jesus say that God forgives us as we forgive others?

Admittedly, there's a good chance that I am disappointed by some people because I put them up on a pillar.  Maybe I'm disappointed because I think too highly of myself and have anointed myself to be their judge, which isn't my rightful place at all.  In other words, my disappointment may be unfounded.

In the end, though, I'm left with a feeling of thankfulness for the people that haven't disappointed me--the people who, when I know them better, are even better people than I would have guessed.  In my life I've been blessed to be surrounded by some terrific people who haven't disappointed me, and for that I am truly thankful.

Hopefully someday I'll be one of them.