Withstanding Scrutiny

We cling to our own point of view, as though everything depended on it.  Yet our opinions have no permanence;  like autumn and winter, they gradually pass away.   ~ Chuang Tzu

It is important to know how we feel about life, death, and all things in between.  When we form rigid opinions, however, we are shutting out other information that could deepen or change how we perceive things to be.  Perhaps, this is the clue ... new information could facilitate change.  We feel much more comfortable with permanency surrounding us and all things securely in place.

By nature, I am a curious person and quite inquisitive.  I have a strong belief system which has been based on eclectic information gathered over the years.  Glancing back, I can see how some of my beliefs were replaced while others grew more certain as I found additional information to reinforce how I felt. 

In order to maintain opinions, it is good to allow them to be vulnerable to other's thoughts and assessments.  Personal truth can be aired and refreshed by the inspection of some one else.  Do we hide our truth for fear it will not withstand up against an other?  Many times, just the opposite happens.  When we face an opposing view, our opinion can be strengthened through the discussion.

Ideally, we can stand firm with our convictions, but with an open heart to respectfully listen to others.   New information will either reinforce what you already believe or bring new insight to what you originally believed.

My opinions have evolved over the years by opening my heart to the thoughts and learning's of others.  I do not have to believe or reject wisdom, but listening respectfully is wise as truth with stands all scrutiny. 

Stepping on the Toes

    

Disappointments in love, even betrayals and losses, serve the soul at the very moment they seem in life to be tragedies.  The soul is partly in time and partly in eternity.  We might remember the part that resides in eternity when we feel despair over the part that is in life.

Thomas Moore

Care of the Soul

Taylor Caldwell and Jess Stearn collaborated on  a work of fiction in 1977 entitled:  I, JUDAS.  The novel created  a new gospel and allowed Judas Iscariot to reveal causes and motivations of his own actions.  Judas, in this story, displays an intention not to betray, but to force Jesus to assert His messianic role.

Not focusing on biblical or historical accuracy, this liberal interpretation of misunderstood intention shines an entirely different light upon the validity or possibility of misconstrued truth.  Judgment aside, exploring two sides to a story truly opens the heart and mind.

We all experience betrayal of some sort during our life experience.  It is a costly and painful experience taking a depth of time to heal.  As times passes, however, there is enough room to step back and see the situation with a broader lens resulting in perhaps a better view of what really happened.

As human beings, we have the tendency to view experiences through our own rose colored glasses.  We form decisions based upon our  previous experiences coloring occurrences in the present or now.  The only actions we can be certain of is our own and even then there are times we question our  personal behavior.

This leads me to the importance of judging no one as Divine Spirit can do just fine without me.  I am not interested in taking sides as I will never have absolute clarity to understand all aspects of any given situation.  I have the absolute right to take a stand for my self, but not to step on the toes of others.