More From Lillian Saldaña Campos

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. — John 7:24 (NRSV)

Blessings for all. My name is Lillian. I am a doctor, a teacher of adolescents, and a singer in the musical group of my church in Cuba alongwith my husband, Robert, who is the pianist. We have two cute children, Evelyn and Daniel. I remember that on Valentine’s Day, Robert invited me to take a walk through the streets of Havana after we left church. As we passed an ornamental plant vendor, I admired a potted plant with strange leaves. Robert knows how much I like plants, and he bought the plant for me. I was so surprised! Robert told me that this gift had made me most excited that Valentine’s Day.

He was not wrong. I loved that plant very much until it started to wilt. I felt very sorry for my husband, and in order not to throw it away, I decided to hide it in the kitchen in a small ventilated corner with lots of humidity. What happened next inspired me to write a meditation that was published in El Aposento Alto magazine on July 5, 2021. In its new shady and moist environment, the plant became a thriving tiny tree that my family and friends now admire.

Through simple things in life, God always speaks to us if we pay attention. I had judged the poor plant and hid it because its appearance had changed. Sometimes I judge people by their appearance and hide them away too. In some cases, I allow fear to stop me from developing relationships with people who look different from me. And at other times, I simply keep my distance from some people because I am not interested in their conversation topics. However, Jesus tells me over and over again that I must not look at a person’s exterior because he sees beyond the flesh. Only Jesus can do this perfectly, without judging. And in the times that Jesus does judge, his judgment is true.

Writing meditations makes me search the word of God more every day. I have learned to find it in flowers, in the wind, in the sea, and in travel. I have seen the Lord acting through song, through the smile of a child or the cry of a mother, through scarcity, amidst disease, and through death. If my beloved husband had not given me the plant that day, I may never have discovered that it needed moisture and shade to become a spectacular tiny tree. If I don't truly know someone, I shouldn't issue any kind of judgment or criteria.