Perception and Reality

P.O Box 1540, Albany Western Australia 6331
Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Perception and Reality
It was Robert Burns who wrote the wistful line about God giving us humans the power to see ourselves as others see us. I wonder if his thoughts turned in that direction because of the size of somebody's waistline? A recent report gives some interesting insight about how men and women see ourselves. The topic surveyed among more than 2,250 adults was weight. Says the report: "People tend to see the weight problem of the nation as a whole as being greater than the weight problems of their friends and acquaintances." They might also have added "or themselves." A big percentage of Australians hold the opinion that the majority of their fellow citizens are overweight. Yet only 70 percent think that most of the people they know are too heavy. Finally, when it comes to themselves, only around four in every ten of us thinks he or she weighs too much. If those numbers seem not to add up, researchers have noticed the same thing. "When [people] think about weight," they wrote, "they appear to use different "scales" for different people." And weight isn't the only thing . . We are also inclined to use different "scales" for weighing deeds and motives. So she admits she said something hateful but denies having really meant it. He confesses to hitting her but claims she knows that he really loves her. Or we acknowledge that we have not obeyed some red-letter teaching of Jesus but insist on our religious zeal and piety. What's going on here? We are facing a difference of perception versus reality. " The reality is alcoholism, but the perception is extroverted party-animal. " Reality is painful neglect of family, and perception is noble hard work. " Truth is lack of integrity, yet the masquerade is that everybody does it. " Fact is religious hypocrisy, but the pretense is denominational loyalty. " Reality is only words and promises, while perception is deep devotion. So what do you think? Are your self-perceptions accurate? Or are they skewed by allowances made for self and friends that are not made for strangers? Vices plastered with excuses? Disobedience masked by religious lip service? "Not everybody who sounds pious is really godly," said Jesus. "They may call me 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The real test is whether they obey my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). The poet was right. It is a gift from above to see ourselves as we really are. Thanks for reading what I've shared. If you would like to write to me, I'd be pleased to hear from you. My address is: P.O. Box 1540, Albany, W.A. 6331. Phone: (08) 9841 8418. Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

It was Robert Burns who wrote the wistful line about God giving us humans the power to see ourselves as others see us. I wonder if his thoughts turned in that direction because of the size of somebody's waistline?

A recent report gives some interesting insight about how men and women see ourselves. The topic surveyed among more than 2,250 adults was weight. Says the report: "People tend to see the weight problem of the nation as a whole as being greater than the weight problems of their friends and acquaintances." They might also have added "or themselves."

A big percentage of Australians hold the opinion that the majority of their fellow citizens are overweight. Yet only 70 percent think that most of the people they know are too heavy. Finally, when it comes to themselves, only around four in every ten of us thinks he or she weighs too much.

If those numbers seem not to add up, researchers have noticed the same thing. "When [people] think about weight," they wrote, "they appear to use different "scales" for different people." And weight isn't the only thing . .

We are also inclined to use different "scales" for weighing deeds and motives. So she admits she said something hateful but denies having really meant it. He confesses to hitting her but claims she knows that he really loves her. Or we acknowledge that we have not obeyed some red-letter teaching of Jesus but insist on our religious zeal and piety. What's going on here?

We are facing a difference of perception versus reality.

" The reality is alcoholism, but the perception is extroverted party-animal.
" Reality is painful neglect of family, and perception is noble hard work.
" Truth is lack of integrity, yet the masquerade is that everybody does it.
" Fact is religious hypocrisy, but the pretense is denominational loyalty.
" Reality is only words and promises, while perception is deep devotion.

So what do you think? Are your self-perceptions accurate? Or are they skewed by allowances made for self and friends that are not made for strangers? Vices plastered with excuses? Disobedience masked by religious lip service?

"Not everybody who sounds pious is really godly," said Jesus. "They may call me 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The real test is whether they obey my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

The poet was right. It is a gift from above to see ourselves as we really are.

Thanks for reading what I've shared. If you would like to write to me, I'd be pleased to hear from you. My address is: P.O. Box 1540, Albany, W.A. 6331. Phone: (08) 9841 8418. Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au