We each all see through our own sets of filters.
If a picture of a man and a boy fishing on a jetty are shown to a child from a reasonably functioning family – this child might say “That’s a kid and his Dad fishing”, another child with an abusive or absent father might just say “That’s a kid and a grown up fishing”.
Each answer is based on an individual set of filters.
I once took one of our kids for some academic testing. Something that it turned up was that this 9 year old had the equivalent vocabulary of a 19 year old and the psychologists comment was “limited only by life experience”. That comment wasn’t a slur – that child had lived a 9 year old’s life which is all that was possible at that age. Or any age. Fact, not put-down.
If I asked the question “What is the right day to worship?”
– Some would keep on scrolling. The question is not on their radar at all. That is one kind of filter.
– Some would answer “Sunday” through the eyes of tradition. That’s another kind of filter.
– Some would answer “Sunday” based on it being the weekly anniversary type celebration of the day Jesus rose. That’s another kind of filter.
– Some would answer “Sunday” based on the belief that Sunday replaces Saturday as the application of the 4th commandment. That’s another kind of filter.
– Some would answer “Saturday” on the basis of that being the 7th day of the week (the Sabbath) and the accurate application of the 4th commandment. That’s another kind of filter.
– Some would also say “Saturday” based on another tradition. Filter!
– Some would not answer at all through fear.
… fear of being wrong.
… fear of being thought wrong (different thing)
… fear of being shot down whether right or wrong
All filters.
– Some would answer “any day” because they see that Jesus gave us access to worship together or on our own, at any time of the day, night or week. That He came not to set up a ‘right’ day to worship but simply to be able to come directly to Him.
Filters.
– And still some would not answer at all because they see the question presupposes a singularly ‘right’ day and they can’t be bothered with that.
More filtering!
This post is not about days to worship. It is about filtering. That was just an example.
Do we each recognise that we all have functioning filters? Some are great, some are terrifying, some assist, some ambush.
Do we each consider that others all have functioning filters? Their often invisible existence sometimes only shows up in differences of opinion but their presence is real to each person based on the limits of life experience. And the word ‘limits’ in that sentence is not a put down… it’s just a fact. Life teaches us things based on the extent of experience and belief to this point – until life, experience and belief take us each to another point. And the word ‘real’ in this paragraph doesn’t necessarily mean ‘true’ – but it does mean felt, experienced, able to be explained or demonstrated based on the life limits etc. of an individual.
Listening doesn’t equal agreement. It is possible to listen for the purpose of increased perception and the gaining of understanding of where others are coming from.
Listening comes alongside someone and communicates “I want to understand from where you are. Show me”.
Filters can create right or wrong or mixed perception. Filters can restrict and highlight, clarify or obscure, increase shadow OR Light.
Trying on
each other’s glasses –
… doesn’t hurt
… isn’t a cop out
… can be incredibly instructive
… and can highlight the next steps or words.
It is possible to retain conviction while listening.
It also becomes possible to better explain one’s own understanding when you see more clearly the point from which the other is coming… to make what YOU see more visible to another when you understand the gap to be traversed.