How familiar it is to wrestle with judging others for their misdeeds, or at least what I perceive as such. But recently, I realized that judgment in the opposite direction can be just as damaging. How so?

Judgment—whether positive or negative—is a form of evaluation, a verdict. And we don't always see it as negative. Sometimes, judgment takes the shape of a falsely exonerating view, an overly idealized impression of someone.

As a journalist and filmmaker, I’ve produced numerous programs and films about people. I’ve always strived to be better than some of my colleagues, who might appear friendly on set only to later create unkind portrayals, misusing their subjects' trust.

Because of this, I sought to present my subjects in the best possible light. But I see now that my vanity played a trick on me.

Even when I saw less-than-noble motivations or questionable actions, I smoothed them over, crafting a purely positive image. But was this really for the best? Ultimately, wasn’t this still a false image—a kind of lie?

After filming wraps, journalists are left with their relationships with their subjects. Sometimes these remain professional, other times they grow into friendships. But falling for the screen personas I created left me with illusions—illusions I would eventually find shattered when I encountered the reality of a person’s character.

Yes, in a way, I was creating idols, sitting in judgment—even if I was acquitting them. But true judgment belongs only to God.

People aren’t perfect. As Scripture says, “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.” Yet this shouldn’t prevent me from loving people as they are.

From the radio program "Private Opinion" on Radio Vera: radiovera.ru/ot-voskresenija-do-voznesenija-svetlana-bakulina.html