Janet’s Jottings

Dear Friends,

We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are. – Anaïs Nin

How true—and insightful! Whether we’re reacting to a neighbor, to the news or to the good news, our perspective reflects who we are. Economics, education and experience weigh in. Personalities, politics and preferences are brought to bear. Faith enters in, as does family and church family. We’re complex and complicated: “Face value” depends on which direction—and which dilemma—you are facing!

One’s perspective is reflective of one’s place in the world. As a woman who has had to prove herself worthy of ordination in a way my male colleagues do not, I have an affinity for those who are challenged by the status quo. But as a white woman, I can’t imagine the extra layers of difficulty faced by women of color. And as a tall woman, I have not been patronized in the same way my vertically-challenged colleagues have.

Similarly, perspectives are crafted by what we were taught and told about the value of our lives—and of others’ lives. Whether comments were directed at the TV or opinions were discussed at the dinner table, we heard what others thought. At some point, we internalized those as our own—or, we developed a different set of assumptions. Beyond parents and grandparents, what we heard from teachers, neighbors and pastors became part of the mix.

Were you introduced to a small world or a big one? Was that world described as a place to explore or a place to fear, as flush with friends or full of foes? Did you grow up in a big city, a small town or a rural area? Asked otherwise, what about your life has made you who you are? What about your faith has made you who you are? Trust what you see with your own eyes, but remember: W e don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.

Love,

Janet