There is an Indian tale of 6 men who were blind that wanted to know what an elephant was like. So, they each touched a part of the elephant and had a different perception. One man who touched the ear said that an elephant was like a fan. Another man touched the tusk and said that an elephant was like a spear. You get the picture, right? Each person had a perception based on their observation, but it wasn’t the truth. Perceptions are deceptions. For example, from Proverbs 18:17 “The first to plead his case seems right until another comes and examines him.”
Perceptions are like feelings. Perceptions are not the truth, neither are feelings. Never trust your feelings and never trust your perceptions as neither are objective (or based on facts). Perceptions and feelings are based on personal observations and opinions. They are subjective or dependent on one’s personal observation and interpretation. Again, a perception is not the whole picture or the truth. Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts His own mind is a fool but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
Slow down your feeling process and couple it with objectivity (facts, truth, authority, wisdom). You will then gain a broader perspective. Perspectives are connective (in other words, they help us connect the dots of what is happening). What is perspective? How does one broaden their perspective? Perspectives are a point of view which everyone has based on their limited backgrounds so we want to broaden our perspectives by asking questions, being a critical thinker, intentionally learning, and gaining different views so we can attain a complete understanding. We want to broaden our perspectives so we can see the whole elephant as opposed to a one dimensional or incomplete picture. Incomplete pictures or perceptions cause judgment, fallacies, untruths, and mistakes. Proverbs 3:13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding.
Remember, broadened perSPectives are SPecial. And the alternative, personal perceptions, are deceptions or incomplete pictures of the truth. Seek the truth by broadening your perspective and listen to sources of wisdom and authority, like the Bible. Proverbs 18:15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
And, our favorite Treasured Teen verse: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
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