Do We Ever Really See the Whole Picture?

Certainty is rare. At least is should be. It’s safe to say that everyone has beliefs they know to be true that simply aren’t. We wouldn’t even consider the possibility that our strongly held beliefs could be untrue… and yet some are. Passion and conviction (and certainty) are not a good test of truth.

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”

Henry David Thoreau

People we believe to be good will turn out to be bad (and vice versa). Events that were devastating when they occurred will end up unexpectedly yielding positive outcomes in the future. We long for some particular experience to occur, and when our hopes are realized, we find the reality held none of the excitement we imagined. But we only gain these insights with the perspective of time.

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What appears random and meaningless up close, in the moment, when taken in proper perspective, begins to take shape. And finally when we stand back, with some distance between us and the events of our past, we can see the picture begin to take shape. But of course, with more time and perspective we realize there was still more to the picture than we expected or imagined. And so it goes, on and on, a more complete picture continues to emerge, but the entire picture is never fully revealed.

“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.”

Camille Pissarro

Every day, with every person you meet, you have the opportunity to see things from a different point of view. If you are able to keep your certainty at bay, you will most assuredly come to discover more truth in your life than would otherwise have been possible.