what happens when you assume?

I struggle with anger when people make assumptions.

I have wrestled with two particular situations in the last couple of hours.
The first is personal.
The other is public.
To protect a relationship I will not address the private one.
The public one though...

Tonight I watched a video clip one of my boys shared about an NFL player, Dwayne Allen, who took a knee at the end of the National Anthem at Sunday's game and was called out by one an NBC broadcaster. As a result of his comment there was a firestorm of negative things shared on social media against Mr. Allen. I tried to figure out how to embed the video clip here. It was a perfect example of the danger of assuming and of judging. It is also a perfect example of how to respond to ungrounded criticism with class. 
(If you want to watch it you can find it at www.colts.com.) 

here are a few obvious reasons we should not assume:

• it is dangerous
• it can be damaging
• it is potentially embarrassing 
• it makes things uncomfortable
• it creates issues where there are none
• it adds fuel to the fire where there is one
• it can create unnecessary work and expense

if you speak out based on an assumption
if you make plans and commitments based on assumptions
it can lead to disappointment
it can definitely make you look less than intelligent

long story short, it can make an ---out of - and --

"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:25-32