There are two sides to every story. I was only 12 years old when I learned the pain of being unfairly accused.
My friends and I were talking during recess and some of the girls started speculating about the private lives of the nuns who ran and lived at the school we attended. I don't remember much of what was being discussed, but I do remember that one of the girls made a very serious accusation regarding two of the nuns who worked there.
I remember sitting there quietly, shocked at what was said. So, you can imagine my dismay when I was called into the principal's office, accused of having initiated the terrible gossip that the girl sitting across from me started. Someone had blown the whistle about our little recess talk and I was quickly blamed for something I never said.
I don't remember much about middle school, but I will never forget that situation. I was recently reminded of that time in my life because of all the high-profile cases in the news over the last few months.
This is less about innocence or guilt and more about our own inclination to sometimes rush to judgment. Proverbs 18 is filled with words of wisdom regarding the disgrace and grief that a hasty judgment can bring to one's life. On verse 17, we find a somber reminder that we should be careful and avoid forming an opinion until we have all the facts: "The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him."
Blind justice is the theory that law should be viewed objectively with the determination of innocence or guilt made without bias or prejudice. It is the idea behind the U.S. Supreme Court motto "Equal Justice Under Law."
During a court hearing, the attorney who pleads his case first before the judge and the jury seems for a moment to have justice on his side. However, it is not until the second attorney takes the stand, sifts and scrutinizes the statements that were already given, argues them to be wrong or weakens the evidence that seemed to support the first attorney's case. It's not until then that the judge and the jury has the material needed to reach a fair verdict.
Judgment of anyone's actions without the presence of evidence or spreading gossip can be dangerous. What may seem to be a truthful story may be totally different from the actual facts. If we are to be just and fair, we should seek to hear both sides of the story. More importantly, we should resist repeating a story until we hear both sides or find evidence of the truth.
We should offer others the same mercy and grace that God offers us every day. May we offer people around us the respect to hear their side of the story, lest we hurt those who are truly innocent.
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