Willing to Be Wrong

Being Wrong or Being Right. Right or Left. For or Against. One side or the other. “You must pick” is the posture of most Americans at the moment. But if we truly searched our mind, heart, and soul, would they actually agree with what the world is telling us we must do?

I’ll admit there are some things I can be optimistic about, but most things I am skeptical about at first, before I can get my hands on some good facts, or at least some credible information. Arguing and bickering are one of my biggest pet peeves. Along with yelling or raising your voice. I believe in a good change in tone of voice, it can do wonders. Not that I haven’t ever yelled, because I definitely have in situations that I saw danger approaching. But as a pattern, it drives me nuts! As much as I love watching house and senate hearings, the talking over one another is dizzying to me, and really uncalled for. But this is beside the point.

One of the core values I grew up with was being willing to say you were wrong, just as much as you are willing to say you were right. Because the real truth is, we are all getting things wrong and right, and learning how to live this complicated thing called life together.

Blame and shame get us no where. It breeds resentment. It assigns responsibility, most often to one individual. It does not build relationships, it only tears them down. Allow me to give you an example: RFK, Jr. is not going to be in my journal of life influences, but I also cannot and will not blame him completely for the vaccine drop or the government’s lack of care for health care insurance. He is not the only one who is not qualified for the job that he was appointed to, nor can he be the reason for our vaccine percentages dropping- this is also the responsibility of the adults who take non-medical advice and choose not to do their own research also. (I am not speaking about those who cannot receive vaccines due to high risk health conditions.)

Holding each other accountable is the opposite of blame and shame. Asking questions to make sure we know the facts, or the way things progress, or the thinking behind the position, is simply to understand where the other is coming from. To clear the clutter, make way for the new paths, thoughts, and ideas that need to be explored.

Now more than ever, at least in my life time, I am hearing division in conversations. And if I have learned anything in my life of 38 years, is that the more labels of division you put on a person/conversation, the more closed off or shut down the conversation becomes. Republicans blame democrats, democrats blame republicans. Federal government shaming the state governments, the state governments fighting back at the federal level. Public schools vs. private schools vs. homeschool. Recreational sports vs travel vs school. Men vs Women. It all comes down to: who is the best? who is the strongest? who has the resources to win? who can hold out the longest to make their point?

Here is my questions, since you know I love questions!

• If people are getting trampled in the meantime, is it worth the hold out? Is it worth the label you are fighting for?
• Is winning, being the best, strongest really is the end goal? Or is doing the right thing? How will we know it’s the right thing?
• What are the titles/labels I am working so hard for that I am ignoring the fact that I may be wrong about things? What could I be right about that I may be sacrificing to gain the title/label?

If we removed titles or labels, which I think we could really benefit from, what would the conversation be? Obviously, this can’t be done, but if it could. Would our conversations be more about learning each other’s perspective before judging or jumping to conclusions. Could we try to listen to the full question before we answer, or listen to the answer before we ask the next? I know this isn’t possible all the time, but when we do have time, and really want to know, could we try?

I focus in on the healthcare and the government on here. I personally have reason to, but this past month-ish has been had a lot of crying out “Oh Jesus please, provide research and what’s needful!” for a few families. From childhood cancers to childhood genetic diseases to ongoing research for immune deficiency and autoimmune for children and adults – it’s been a heart tugging year, and this month just brought on more. I believe strongly that Jesus is close to every single one of these families. Childhood illness and research is critical and usually the first to be cut. It makes me physically sick. I would ask you to stay aware of these things, and most of all pray for the families that are in the hospitals and clinics- peace that passes all understanding!!

Life Book of the Week: You are With Me: Prayers for every part of the Day, by Marrianne Rossner