“Assumption is the mother of all mess ups.”
The actual quote (from Under Siege 2: Dark Territory) is quite a bit more graphic, but I refuse to use THAT word in any way, shape or form (even a quote). But the sentiment expressed in the quote is true no matter how it is expressed. Basically, it is saying that to make assumptions before the facts are known is dumb. I’d like to use a recent news event as an example.
As I sat and ate my supper last night, I was appalled at the carnage which took place in NY the night before. I was so out of touch with the news that I didn’t even know it happened until a day later. I almost gagged on my supper as I read the heartbreaking news of 4 lost lives-one a police officer. More importantly, a husband, a father of two boys, and a soon-to-be-father of another child. I’m not going to comment on the mental state of the person who did the deed. He took his own life with a note saying to investigate his brain for a brain injury (CTE caused my football trauma). Only time will tell as to the truth or untruth of what he says. That is not my point.
What made me sick was listening to some people being interviewed automatically saying, “He was probably such-and such race.” That man was nowhere close! In fact, he was a mixed race individual, nowhere close to what he and other talking heads ASSUMED. But keep in mind my opening statement: “Assumption is the mother of mess-ups.”
Enough talking about the news though. Let’s apply it, in my case, to the church. How often have we made an assumption about someone when they walked through our church door? Rich or poor? Black or white or (fill in the blank). Trouble or Troubled. Special needs or “normal.” (I despise that distinction but don’t know how else to express it. Please forgive me if I offend you). Heterosexual or homosexual. See what I mean? Assumptions are dangerous. There is no way we can assume what someone is like just by their appearance. The tragedy is when a judgment is made and that judgement clouds our ability to see who that person really is. A failure to really see that person for he or she is keeps us from letting them know they are welcome. Proverbs 27:19 says, “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” (NLT) There is often so much more going on inside a person’s heart than what is seen externally. Loneliness. Pain. Insecurity. Loveless. Lost. Empty. The list can go on for a long time.
But we will NEVER see a person for who he or she is unless we drop the “assumption factor.” Be aware: I’m not saying we drop our guard and “be all out there.” But let’s stop assuming what or who someone is by making external judgments before we get to know that person.
It is so very dangerous to assume something about another person before we even get to know him or her. Doing that in haste, especially when reporting the news, provides the short rope for a hanging as that assumption may have to be corrected. And just like that, there goes one’s credibility. May a powerful lesson be learned by all of us who claim to be Christians.
Blessings, Bill!
I’m glad you mentioned how someone’s credibility can get messed up by assumption. I failed to. thanks for bringing that to mind. And yes, it is a powerful lesson we need to learn.
I agree with you Bill. God’s command to love your neighbor, in that command, God doesn’t say only the neighbors that are easy to love. God makes it clear, that we are to love everyone, every single person. To love someone you have to first get to know them. If you cross people off your list, simply because of the way they look, or you have already made an assumption of what they are like, you have already committed the sin. Father, our neighbors are every single person we see, open our hearts to first see someone to love not someone to push away. Father if we see someone, it is You that has put them in our path, help us to open our hearts to get to know them. Teach us to love without restrictions on how to love one another.
AMEN!!
I am so with you on this…and I will admit I have fell into that trap of making an assumption on someone. Whats worst is when we speak our assumptions to others which is spreading gossip. Gossip does not have to be true, but true or not it is a sin and God hates it. I have had to apologize more then once for comments made about someone. As for the news its getting harder and harder to know what is real and what is fake. I don’t watch much news. Ace does more than I do and I trust his opinion about what is real or not. Hope all is well at you house brother. Blessings
Sadly I have also fallen into the same trap. i am praying it is getting less as I get older and grow more in my faith. Thanks for coming by Betty. We are well. Thank you.
“Walk a mile in my shoes, or spend some time in my mind and THEN you can judge me!”
The funny thing is, circumstances and conditions in a persons life are not always the same.
No they are not Ed. Every person is different and what bothers one does not bother another. (I don’t know if I want people to spend time in my mind). 🙂