My Finite View

  Many of you may remember an excellent post by Benjamin Watson about racism being a sin problem around the time of the Ferguson riots. (Read the text of the post here).  I remembered it, which was why when I saw he had written a book, Under Our Skin,  I wanted to read it.  In his book, he takes the parts of his post and expands on them, sharing his own experiences and views growing up in the US.  It was excellent.  

  Something I’ve realized (although took way too many years of my life to come to this realization), is that my understanding is very limited by my own experiences.  It’s taken hearing way too many stories of other’s experiences (students, friends, speakers, pastors, media) to begin to understand how limited my view really is.  I listened to them, but not always with an open heart.  But I have learned, slowly over the years, it’s better to listen first, to a variety of different views and experiences, really try to understand, and then form an opinion.  I’m not one for moral relativism, or the idea of “what’s right for you”...but there is truth to the concept that “perception is reality”.  What you have experienced, and your interpretation of that, does shape how you see the world.  My experiences shape a different view than yours.  

  I may never be able to walk in another person’s shoes, but I can listen and try to imagine what it is like to walk in their shoes.  I think of all the years I listened to students and their experiences and how long it took for me to come to understand what many of them were saying.  I don’t always agree with the conclusion or the actions others come to because of their experiences.  I don’t think it always justifies their thoughts or actions.  But at least I can better understand the “why” behind it.  And then I can start to move forward on what I think is a better, more informed understanding and hopefully work toward better solutions.  I can better partner with others...others who may disagree with me... to work toward a better solution.  My view is so finite.  So so finite. 

 I am embarrassed and ashamed of some of the ignorant things I’ve said and thought in the past.  I may still come to some of the same conclusions...because ultimately I still believe in certain moral truths, but my compassion may have caused me to handle it differently.  Some of my conclusions may be different now, because I see the limited or faulty way I was thinking.  Many things in this world are grey, with different answers for different situations and experiences.  I am more okay with the messiness of that now.  I don’t have to have the answer for everything, and I don’t have to agree with the proposed solution all the time.  I may be wrong...I may be right.  In five or ten years I may look back and have better knowledge of whether I was right or wrong after I’ve lived more of life and I’ve listened to more people and their experiences.  

  Another thing I’ve come to appreciate is believing that people generally have good intentions.  They may not get it right, but their intentions are often good.  I’d rather start at that premise, than at a negative or judgemental premise that their intentions are bad.  I find it easier to listen with an open heart if I believe their intentions are good.  Again, it doesn’t mean I have to agree with them or their conclusions...but at least I can try to understand a little better.  

  Since my faith is at the center of who I am, I must say here that I still believe the Bible to be the center of where I go to understand absolute Truth.  I recognize that our experiences, biases, culture, do impact the way we read and interpret the Bible.  One of my favorite classes in college was Faith and Culture where we began to explore this idea.  I’ve tried really hard to come to the Bible with an open heart to truly understand the meaning of it free from my own cultural biases...but it’s slow steps and a big learning curve.  And even then, can it truly ever be done as a sinful and limited human being?  But I can try and I can rely on the Holy Spirit to convict when I’m wrong and guide me to the right answer.  But humility is key...pride will always get in the way of this.

So there you have it.  Just some thoughts for the day.