Now, imagine…you fill out your tax return and it says you're getting $100,000 back this year! But, when the return arrives there is a letter stating that you've miscalculated and that the correct amount is actually written on the check they've sent you: $10,000. What would you do? How would you react?
Why is it then, that receiving the same amount of money from the gov't could produce such strongly different reactions?
It would seem that it not the actual "thing" we so much react to as it is our preconceived ideas about whatever it is.
Back in May I happened to turn on the TV and see a judge reading the rules to a jury for a trial which was just starting. I thought this was something "educational" so I sat and watched. THEN…the atty's were to give their opening remarks. I had never seen this before, either, so I thought I'd watch that, too, for the education. By the end of that day, I was sucked-in. And, I have tried to follow the Casey Anthony trial every day since when I have been able.
For me, I had seen the hype on TV about it 3 years ago when I was in a hotel in Guatemala City. Back then the media sure made it look like she was some rotten, evil, child-killer. So, when I heard the State's opening remarks my opinion was, "Burn her! She's a witch!" Right? I thought that until the defense made their opening remarks. Then, I sat rubbing my chin wondering, "hmmm…"
I had preconceived ideas about this case. I believe that that has had to have affected everything about how I have seen the whole trial. And, since today is the 4th of July…a day where we're thinking about "Freedom"…you could say that preconceived ideas rob you of your freedom to experience things as they truly are.
So, I am really "excited" to see what the jury comes back with. The jury is chosen based on them having no preconceived ideas or knowledge about the case. Their introduction to this case was not thru "Bill O'Reilly" or "Greta" or any of those Fox News' opinionated talk shows in the evening, but, merely by a presentation of the evidence…
I can't wait to see how they return the verdict based on merely the facts.
And, it makes me wonder if when Jesus said, "Don't judge"…if He'd maybe He meant, "Don't have preconceived ideas about people"…
You see a person with black fingernails and dark black eyeliner and immediately you form an opinion of that person even before you've spoken to them…that's judging. And, having those preconceived ideas about people before you meet them will affect every interaction you have with them…and that's kinda' sad. (How many friends do we miss out on in life because we decide how someone is and who they are before we even get to know them?)
It's also one reason to make sure to present yourself in a way to the world that their preconceived idea of you will be a good one…
It's also, now that I think of it, since this is where I always end up, it's another reason why the "doctrine of Original Sin" is so deadly serious in the world because it puts a preconceived buncha' beliefs about babies in parents' heads even before that baby is born. It robs you of your freedom to experience your newborn baby as they truly are. If you believe your baby is born a "sinner" then when that baby cries out to you, the way you see their cry is going to be tainted and you will be inhibited in your ability to see how your behavior is affecting your child, and you will be led to follow teachers and parenting practices that actually damage your child's developing brain and set them up for social struggles and failure the rest of their life…
Those are just my random thoughts for the day…
