A differing opinion is a resource

The faint shadow the two lights cast on the wall was not visible to my sight, but the photograph picked it up.

There are many things we miss seeing because it is apparently insignificant or not striking. Even with the best of our alertness or sense of presence, we are likely to perceive some things incompletely or tangentially.

And yet, we seem to be assertive of our perceptions and rigid with our position often times. This is evident in the realms of politics, economics, education, technology, etc. 

One of the disturbing phenomena we notice in the editorials of the news papers, national media and political speeches of our leaders is the one sidedness with which they communicate. The statesmanship which we need in a divided polity with tensions in our neighbourhood is almost missing. 

In the life of our organizations or institutions, we need others to show us what we have missed to see and appreciate. And yet, I suspect that some who share their insights, in a contradicting manner to the views of the majority are subdued, ignored or frowned upon. 

Let me suggest that those who perceive deeply and sense holistically can be a grace in a community. Jesus of Nazareth saw what others failed to see. The parable of the Good Samaritan was spoken by Jesus to help the people of that time to see what they had failed to see. And yet instead of a complement, he received a cross. 

A child of nine years who came to visit me helped me to see this. He noticed two fish that lay dead in the aquarium. Just before he had come in to the room, I had watched the fish in the aquarium for about a minute and had not noticed it.  A couple of minutes later, this boy who is fond of ornamental fish went straight to the aquarium and drew my attention to the dead fish. He told me that live fish may hover around a dead fish. It is this which drew his attention to the dead fish. He knew far more than me though I have had an aquarium in my room for about thirty years now. 

We promote learning and growing, when we acknowledge the wisdom and insights of others, even if it appears to question our position or views.

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)