Perspectives

Perspectives are interesting because everyone has one, and everyone usually has a slightly different one. All perspectives are important and valid. We run into trouble when someone asserts their perspective as reality. While it may be true and real in most instances, rarely is it reality.

The problem, as I see it, is this: how do we determine in our daily lives which perspective to live out? How do we determine if ours is right or wrong? These are hard questions with even harder answers.

If we try and define the word we will find a variety of definitions all contributing to our current connotation. For instance, it is defined as "the state of one's ideas," or "the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship," or "the mental view or prospect." Have I added clarity to this picture with these definitions? Maybe some, but not enough to provide answers to the above questions.

Perspective is really how one takes in the world, interprets it and then, how those interpretations dictate a life lived. Still, we are no closer to determine right perspectives from wrong ones, but I believe that is the wrong question. Sure, there are right ones and wrong ones. Serving your fellow man is morally right while taking your fellow man's life is morally wrong, but that gets us no closer to determining those perspectives worthy of following or those that are "right."

These are the wrong questions. We all have a perspective, but the key to this whole thought is not which one is right, but instead, which ones will be barriers to our communication with each other. I believe our lives should be spent in dialogue about what is right and what is wrong. When one perspective is presented as reality and promoted as reality it limits the dialogue that is vital to life itself.

We are social beings and our calling should be spent honing our ability to communicate with each other not building barriers to eliminate communication. Every barrier that prevents us from sharpening that ability should be addressed because communication is how we live our lives. Examinations of racism, oppression and slavery see these very traits. One perspective is presented as reality, barriers are put up to prevent discussion and all energy and force is used to ensure that the chosen perspective is protected as the right perspective.

I learned this lesson the hard way recently. I am one of those who believe my perspective is right more than it is wrong. You can see right there by that statement that I am already headed down the wrong path. Well, right or wrong, it does not matter when it becomes a barrier to dialogue. Dialogue is the key to life. It is this process of communication that must be protected always. How does one do this? I would suggest taking this question around to others and beginning... a dialogue! Blessings!