"That Awful Disease" (Self-Assessment, part 2)

-
Here's one of the greatest magic tricks I've ever witnessed-.



Recently at the Oscars, Actor Matthew McConaughey presented the award for film editing, reminding us (in so many words) that movies are an illusion. We like to be fooled, to be entertained. Appropriately, The Academy thanked the people who go to to movies, keeping them in the business of making illusions. Why? Because we'll believe anything, as long as it makes us feel good.

Do you trust your eyes? We over-trust our eyes, which is why the illusion works. The simplest distraction, the smallest deception occurs and we go spiraling off on a tangent.

Do you trust your feelings? Are they accurate?

About mid-afternoon many folks start get grouchy. But why? Mars, Incorporated has figured it out. Folks aren't grouchy. They are "hangry" and Mars has connected the Snickers candy bar with that feeling to sell their product. Some folks just need a snack and they profit by connecting a message to a feeling that may actually be in accurate. The same is true when it comes to eating in general--we may not actually be hungry but thirsty and our bodies are willing to wring out every drop of water from wherever it will find it. There's a reason why food and drink is always served at meetings where decisions are made.

Can we trust our feelings? Perhaps no more than we trust our eyes. Our emotions may be in overload but are they right? Our perception may say one thing, but what does reality say? I learn this lesson every time I go to the gym--when I start my training I say, "I got this" until I reach the "what have I done to myself" stage because I thought one thing but the workout says another.

"Heraclitus called self-deception an awful disease and eyesight a lying sense." (Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philsophers)

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

Rather than tossing our hands up in despair over our condition, we need to train to be discerning of ourselves, learn to personally assess ourselves. Slow down and not rush to conclusions. 

Popular posts from this blog

“Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?”

-
July 2004 I went to Kenya, Africa to speak in two Pastor’s Conferences on the subject of Man, Sin and Salvation. At the end of each day I left just over an hour for questions (half the time were questions touching the subject of my lectures, and the other half for “open questions”; that is, people could ask anything). For the next few weeks, I will be sharing the questions that were asked of me, and my answers—and believe me when I say these people really know how to think! Question from Kenya #1: “Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?” [“ But He said, ‘You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live! ’” (Exodus 33:20) was the basis of the student’s question]. Answer: First, consider those who did see God—how did they respond when they saw Him? They were instantly aware of their sinfulness, and God’s holiness and righteousness (to name a few. And notice also that each responded in an attitude of worship, bowing down): Abraham built altars, wors
Read more

A Sonnet

-
“My God, where is that ancient heat towards thee, Wherewith whole shoals of martyrs once did burn, Besides their other flames? Doth poetry Wear Venus' livery? only serve her turn? Why are not sonnets made of thee? and lays Upon thine altar burnt? Cannot thy love Heighten a spirit to sound out thy praise As well as any she? Cannot thy Dove Outstrip their Cupid easily in flight? Or, since thy ways are deep, and still the fame, Will not a verse run smooth that bears thy name! Why doth that fire, which by thy power and might Each breast does feel, no braver fuel choose Than that, which one day, worms may chance refuse. Sure Lord, there is enough in thee to dry Oceans of ink; for, as the Deluge did Cover the earth, so doth thy Majesty: Each cloud distills thy praise, and doth forbid Poets to turn it to another use. Roses and lilies speak thee; and to make A pair of cheeks of them, is thy abuse Why should I women's eyes for crystal take? Such poor invention burns in their low mind Wh
Read more

A Fresh Perception

-
Image
  “In primitive times, when man awakes in a world that is newly created, poetry awakes with him. In the face of the marvellous things that dazzle and intoxicate him, his first speech is a hymn simply. He is still so close to God that all his meditations are ecstatic, all his dreams are visions. His bosom swells, he sings as he breathes. His lyre has but three strings—God, the soul, creation; but this threefold mystery envelopes everything, this threefold idea embraces everything. The earth is still almost deserted. . . . He leads that nomadic pastoral life with which all civilizations begin, and which is so well adapted to solitary contemplation, to fanciful reverie. He follows every suggestion, he goes hither and thither, at random. His thought, like his life, resembles a cloud that changes its shape and its direction according to the wind that drives it. Such is the first man, such is the first poet. He is young, he is cynical. Prayer is his sole religion, the ode is his only form of
Read more