We hear compelling arguments almost daily.
Their impact can lead us to change our positions, rethink our beliefs, or even compel us to action. For often the people and organizations we hear have a background, title, or insight that gives them credibility to speak on the subject. Their sway seeming both legitimate and validated.
Armed with our new-found knowledge, we press forward to educate the rest of the World so they might avoid the ignorance we were once mired in. However, we often lose our momentum once challenged as our certitude suddenly wanes. We stand confronted with alternative facts and interpretations. For in our information saturated and increasingly polarized culture, discernment is difficult to achieve.
“The first speech in a court case is always convincing—
until the cross-examination starts!”
Solomon understood our nature and thus provided us the warning above. While not a fresh insight, his encouragement for patience with information remains a struggle. We can find it exceedingly difficult in matters in which we ‘want’ to believe or have created artificial urgency and thus forego our usual deliberation.
The answer is not to close our minds to new perspectives and research, but to judiciously weigh information before we allow it to impact us. To avoid confusing enthusiasm and convenience with competence and truth. And when all else fails, fall back on the adage that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
This week make a concerted effort to focus on discernment. Take extra time to weigh the merits of what is coming to you and from whom. In doing so we might sharpen our discernment thereby increase our wisdom.