By Guest Writer A.E. Zander

The night sky was dim in the park my brothers and sister and I walked in. Laying abandoned on the ground sat a plastic beach ball, proving to be irresistible to my brother, who instantly whacked it high up in the air- and straight against my eye. I don’t think I’ll ever forget his horrified look at the black ring around my eye.

“Are you OK? Did I hurt you?” he asked, biting his lip worriedly. Despite my trying to assure him I was perfectly fine, he didn’t calm down until I wiped away the black marring my skin. It wasn’t a bruise, after all! Just mud.

Whenever I think of that story, I can’t help but think; how many times have I judged people based on their appearance, without taking the time to look closer? How many times have I looked at the ‘mud’ in someone’s life, without seeing what’s underneath?

“… for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7