Perspective and Perception

I have been reading a book written by someone known to me.  The author is not a close friend, but is an acquaintance.  A mutual acquaintance made the comment that 60% of the book is true.  I know that neither of these people would intentionally lie about anything, so how can one present the contents of the book as true, and the other say that only 60% is true?


We all interpret what we experience in life within our own context.  We bring our unique past background to each new situation.  Two people can be in the same place at the same time living through the same moments together and cast those moments in completely different lights. Witnesses to a crime can "see" different things.  Family members can remember family events differently.  Someone recently told me that she and her brother had read the same article and come away with very different conclusions.  An ant crawling around in an oriental rug has a much different perspective than a person standing looking down on it.  Hence, they have different perceptions.


Several years ago, I had a very painful experience.  I was verbally attacked by someone whom I had considered to be a close friend and coworker in a volunteer setting.  The person had for nearly 10 years repeatedly complimented me and expressed gratitude for my input on a board on which we served.   Within a very brief period of time, there was a dramatic change in our relationship.  I sensed a wall had been erected between us.  Shortly after this, the person told me that I had spent the last nearly 10 years undermining him, and that my input had been destructive.  When I questioned how he could be saying that when he had previously complimented me and thanked me, he said, "Well...I don't think I was lying."


Clearly there was a change in perspective which altered his perception of our interactions.  At the time, I said to my husband, "It is as though he has picked up someone else's glasses and is now looking at me through those glasses rather than his own."


What is my point?  I have four of them.
1.  We need to be aware of our own biases.  What are we bringing to the interpretation of a situation?
2.  We need to be forgiving.  Those who see a situation differently than we do may well be doing the best they can within their context.
3.  There is such a thing as "true" truth.  I do believe in absolutes.  However, we need to be careful not to mix up truth with our opinions.
4.  We need to be grateful for the glasses through which God looks at us.  
     Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.  Isaiah 1:18


The truth about each of us is that we are flawed and sinful.  But God's perception is that we are sinless, because his perspective is through the sacrifice of His Son.  And that is true truth!