Once again today has been socked in with dense, heavy thick fog. Here you can see the view out my windows as I sat to have lunch:
Each evening this week hubby has come home from work, and I’ve asked him how his day was – and each evening, much to my surprise, he has let me know what a beautiful, sunny day it was!
What!??
It wasn’t a beautiful sunny day. It was socked in with dense foggy whiteness all day – from my perspective.
“Was it blue-sky sunny or just white-sunny?” I query.
“Oh, it was clear blue skies and sunny!” hubby responds.
Which perspective is correct??
The area where we live has multiple ridges running north/south, parallel to each other, with corresponding valleys running in-between. Our landscape was carved out by glaciers many years ago. Because of this ridge/valley landscape, fog often lies heavy and dense down in the valleys (especially during the wintertime).
Some valleys might have fog, while other valleys do not.
Some valley might have fog which wafts up to cover the corresponding ridge; while other valleys & ridges are completely clear of fog. Such is the case where hubby works. The ridge where hubby’s work is located is across a valley from the ridge where we live.
Every day this week heavy fog has covered the ridge where our home is.
But as hubby descends the ridge into the valley, headed to work, he comes out of the fog. Neither the valley which he crosses nor the ridge where he works have had any fog this week. From hubby’s perspective it indeed has been clear blue skies and sunny!
Both perspectives were correct.
In life there is a lot of angst among people over differing perspectives/opinions. In fact, society at large has a great deal of animosity and conflict because differing people & people groups have differing perspectives.
Which perspective is correct??
In most cases, both perspectives are correct.
There are almost always “two sides to any coin.” There are different angles of looking at just about anything. One person might see things one way … and their perspective is correct. While someone else might see it from a completely different angle … and likewise their perspective is also correct.
To be sure, when it comes to issues addressed in the Bible, the Bible is the final authority. End of discussion. Such as the taking of innocent life … the Bible says this is wrong! This therefore is a “close-handed” issue. There is no discussing any other perspective. The Bible is the ultimate authority on this issue.
Another issue addressed in the Bible is that of having sex outside of marriage … the Bible says this is wrong! Any variation of this is wrong! End of discussion. This also is a “close-handed” issue. The Bible is the ultimate authority on this issue!
The Bible addresses other issues which are “close-handed” issues. The Bible is the ultimate authority on perspective when it comes to these issues.
However, there are many issues in life which the Bible does not specifically address as being wrong. These we hold in an “open hand.”
On these “open-handed” issues we can freely discuss and debate while still respectfully holding differing opinions and perspectives.
When it comes to “open-handed” issues, oftentimes both perspectives might be correct.
We live in a global world. This means our many different perspectives are coming from many different parts of the country; from many different parts of the world; coming from uniquely different backgrounds; from different cultural contexts, etc. etc. etc. …
As we travel down the “road of life” our perspective might look like this:
However, someone who is travelling along on life’s roadway nearby (such as hubby at work on a nearby ridge) will have a completely different perspective! And both perspectives are correct. One isn’t better than the other. They are just different.
Many people want to argue that their perspective is the one and only correct viewpoint.
But other perspectives and viewpoints can also be correct. (as long as they don’t go against the “close-handed” issues of what God’s Word, the Bible says)
In this photo you can see that the road ahead makes a sharp 90-degree-turn. Every time I come to this turn I think of the quote: “A bend in the road is not the end of the road – unless you fail to make the turn.”
So also, differing perspectives / viewpoints does not mean it’s the “end of the road” as far as communicating / relating to others. It’s only the “end of the road” if we fail to make the turn – if we are stubborn and obstinate and refuse to look around the corner to see where the road might go.
In closing, here is one of my favorite quotes:
“Everyone wants to be heard. But if we want to be heard, we must strive to hear. We must have the discipline to sit in an uncomfortable dialogue and try to keep from blaming or defending when the fear and anger rise up. It’s hard not to walk away from the table when emotions run high.”
– by Kathy Mattea
