the courage to change
I overheard (and then butted into) a conversation the other night at a church event with some friends. They were talking about a man in South Africa who was explaining to my one friend why blacks were naturally inferior. She was astounded that someone could believe such a thing in this day and age, but realized that's how he'd been raised and taught, so it was what he really believed. He had a litany of reasoning to support his claim, not realizing how much of it was unfounded in reality. It didn't matter if it was true, it was all he knew.
How much of what we believe do we only believe because it's what we were raised with? Our parents teach us something, the lesson is reinforced by other important figures in our lives, and we accept it as solid truth with no margin of error. It's simply how the world is. We build our lives on this foundation, and when it is challenged, we have no doubts that we are right, and we continue blithely believing.
Eventually, though, we are called to defend our position. We meet someone with questions we don't have the answers to, or we are challenged by circumstances, and we are forced to examine ourselves. This can have two results - three if you count the middle stage.
The first result is we become even more confident in what we know, because we searched and found the answers and know the truth. The foundation is sure and solid, and we continue building on it. It stands up against anything that is thrown our way. It is reassuring. Each time someone challenges it, it simply grows stronger, because every question asked leads to more of the truth revealed and more surety of belief.
The second possibility is that we realize we are wrong, and something shatters. What we took for granted for so long was an illusion. We're faced with a choice to go on pretending to be ignorant of the truth, or to change. And this kind of change can be hard. Perhaps it was a small fact and the assimilation of what you learned will be simple. But if it is something that changes your worldview, it can be very difficult to accept, and change will take work. It will be hard to turn from what you thought life was to something different, and things will be lost in the process. Pride may try to keep you from acting upon what you learned, and will fall by the wayside. Friends and family may not understand your choices. You may sometimes not understand how you could have been wrong for so long and struggle with choosing the change. If it's something fundamental, it will cost to give it up. But "you will know the truth, the truth shall set you free."
Sometimes, though, you might be unsure of what the truth is, and you get stuck in a maelstrom of thoughts in the middle-ground. This is the most uncomfortable place to be, at the same time convinced of the truth and questioning it. It's hard to move in either direction for fear of making the wrong choice and having to deal with the consequences without confidence that this one is right. It's a place of questions and confusion and doubt. In this place, all you can do is keep asking, keep searching, keep learning, and be ready to change if the truth demands it.
When was the last time you really examined what you believe about life?
How much of what we believe do we only believe because it's what we were raised with? Our parents teach us something, the lesson is reinforced by other important figures in our lives, and we accept it as solid truth with no margin of error. It's simply how the world is. We build our lives on this foundation, and when it is challenged, we have no doubts that we are right, and we continue blithely believing.
Eventually, though, we are called to defend our position. We meet someone with questions we don't have the answers to, or we are challenged by circumstances, and we are forced to examine ourselves. This can have two results - three if you count the middle stage.
The first result is we become even more confident in what we know, because we searched and found the answers and know the truth. The foundation is sure and solid, and we continue building on it. It stands up against anything that is thrown our way. It is reassuring. Each time someone challenges it, it simply grows stronger, because every question asked leads to more of the truth revealed and more surety of belief.
The second possibility is that we realize we are wrong, and something shatters. What we took for granted for so long was an illusion. We're faced with a choice to go on pretending to be ignorant of the truth, or to change. And this kind of change can be hard. Perhaps it was a small fact and the assimilation of what you learned will be simple. But if it is something that changes your worldview, it can be very difficult to accept, and change will take work. It will be hard to turn from what you thought life was to something different, and things will be lost in the process. Pride may try to keep you from acting upon what you learned, and will fall by the wayside. Friends and family may not understand your choices. You may sometimes not understand how you could have been wrong for so long and struggle with choosing the change. If it's something fundamental, it will cost to give it up. But "you will know the truth, the truth shall set you free."
Sometimes, though, you might be unsure of what the truth is, and you get stuck in a maelstrom of thoughts in the middle-ground. This is the most uncomfortable place to be, at the same time convinced of the truth and questioning it. It's hard to move in either direction for fear of making the wrong choice and having to deal with the consequences without confidence that this one is right. It's a place of questions and confusion and doubt. In this place, all you can do is keep asking, keep searching, keep learning, and be ready to change if the truth demands it.
When was the last time you really examined what you believe about life?
Comments
Post a Comment