How often do we misinterpret other's actions? I think this is more commonly visible overseas. We'll get into a situation that we don't know and someone will do something totally outside our comfort zone and we may completely miss what just happened... or we may react in the absolute worst way possible and make a total ass (yes, I did just use that word) out of ourselves. The example that pops to mind the quickest for me is when I was in Indonesia and was meeting up with a girl. Upon seeing her and her outstretched hands I thought she was going in for a hug... but no, just a handshake. Moments of awkwardness ensued.
In the day to day world, I think we probably go about with more misperceptions of people around us then we realize. We view the world through our own lens with past hurts and pains shading our views. We project onto others our own ideas and thoughts... and we often respond to other's innocent remarks negatively because we interpret them through our hurt.
Humility is called for - a desire to truly know the heart of a person; a desire to see each person as a person instead of as part of a group attached with a stigma. A recognition of our own hurt is also helpful, as then we will realize when an innocent remark is truly just an innocent remark and we can seek to grow and heal in areas that cause us to have misperceptions.
May we grow in the grace and humility of Christ and being willing to look at our misperceptions of others.
No comments:
Post a Comment