Real World character's actions take me back

I was watching an episode of "Real World XX: Hollywood" on Monday night, and one character's actions really affected me.

Sarah, the brown-eyed, budding broadcast journalist from Phoenix, threw a fit when her less conservative roommate Brianna from Philadelphia, brought a guy home from the bar and had sexual relations with him while Sarah and other roommate Kimberly were sleeping in the same room.

Sarah feels that Brianna's actions were disrespectful and inconsiderate. I couldn't help but agree. I, too, would feel awkward if while I was trying to fall asleep, a friend had sex with a strange guy in her bed next to mine.

But instead of sitting Brianna down the next morning to talk about it, Sarah and Kimberly made snide remarks about Brianna's lifestyle choices and her profession while Brianna and male roommate Will chatted in the hot tub down the hall.

Sarah became completely passive aggressive. Brianna asked Sarah where her makeup bag was, and Sarah, in a condescending tone, lectured Brianna about cleaning up after herself and told her that she placed her makeup bag under the dock.

Sarah is very close with her family and is proud of her traditional views and conservative upbringing. Brianna complains that Sarah is judgmental and dismisses her because she doesn't fit Sarah's world view.

Sarah reminds me a lot of myself when I was 20. I was embarrassed for both of us as I watched her temper tantrum develop. I, too, was raised in a conservative home. I think it's very easy to be judgmental of others who exhibit "immoral" behaviors when you haven't been exposed to different cultures and religious traditions.

I vividly remember a fight I had with an old roommate over cleaning the apartment. She screamed, "I'm sorry I'm not as perfect as you, Ashley." I make a conscious effort to remember those words. They remind me that I'm not perfect. That nobody's perfect. My dad always said, "There's a right way and a wrong way to do something." Sorry, dad, but you were very wrong. There is no right way or wrong way to do anything; it's simply her way or my way.

I think many Christians are guilty of playing moral judges once and awhile. I know I have, and I probably will again. But we just have to remind ourselves that's not what Christianity is all about. Christians are supposed to forgive, to heal and to console. I hope Sarah will be able to look back someday and feel the same.