Absolutes

I have a lot of respect for people who are able to listen openly to information and points of view which are contrary to their current way of thinking. Then seriously consider that information and come to a well thought out and educated decision on a topic, even if the experience does not end up changing their minds.

Most people have a set of principals that they believe in and follow in their lives. Many of which were taught to us in our youth by family, school and church. It is easy as children to accept what we are taught at face value and then hold those principals throughout our adult lives.

Much of society wants to paint people who listen to other points of view with an open mind as if they are weak for doing so or as if they do not have a solid set of principals already. We have all heard the accusatory phrase “don’t be so open minded that your brain falls out”.

I would argue that people who are open minded are not weak but they are actually courageous. They have to deal with friends and family that are often displeased with them for even considering another way of thinking as if it is a personal attack on them and their morals. They become defensive of their beliefs.

But a person who allows themselves to be open-minded is doing it so that they can feel secure in their principals. They can’t look at themselves in the mirror unless they know that they personally did the work to come to their own conclusions.  "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6:4

When considering all points of view it is important to remember that the view is different for each person depending on where they are standing. Just like the view from the bottom of a mountain is significantly different than the view from the top. The person on top is able to see that a storm is coming in the distance. The person on the bottom is able to feel the cool water in a small creek covered by the shade of trees. The person on the top of the mountain might not be aware that there is water nearby. The person on the bottom might not be aware that there is a storm coming. What if the person on the top of the mountain were to say, “There is no water around here, so we must walk many miles in hopes of finding water.” From his point of view that is a true statement and there is no way anyone could tell him different because he has seen it with his own eyes. But if he were to listen anyway to what the person at the bottom had to say he would find out that his view was not complete after all. Listening to one another is also the foundation for binding people together instead of perpetuating our current cultural division. Respect builds bridges.

I believe that our only chance for peace in this world starts with listening respectfully to one another. It is only pride that prevents people from doing so.  "The pride of your heart has deceived you." Obadiah 1:3

Wisdom is the continual practice of listening with an open mind. What is true today may not be true tomorrow. Consider all of the new scientific discoveries, inventions and human accomplishments. It is not logical to stick our fingers in our ears and refuse to listen or to listen but only with the intention of finding ways to discredit or disprove. "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”, James 1:19. Just keeping quiet while someone speaks is not listening. Listening is a verb. It is something you do, not the lack of doing something.

I spent the first half of my life thinking in a very black and white, right and wrong manner. It is quick and easy to say that lying, stealing and murder are all very bad. And in most cases we would agree that they are. But if we break down each individual situation and the people involved we will sometimes find that someone told a lie in an attempt to protect someone that they love. Another person stole a loaf of bread to feed their starving child. And yet another person killed someone who broke into their home in a threatening manner. It is when we dig into humanity that we discover the world is made up of many shades of gray rather than black and while.

This change in my thinking is probably the most fundamental change to my personal principals. Although I suspect that Ayn Rand was sarcastic when she wrote this, I personally agree that “There’s no necessity to burden oneself with absolutes.”