What do you see?

 

What do you see when you look at this photo? Well, it depends.

For many of us, it's just a pretty photo of red cliffs against a pretty blue sky.

But a photographer might see an opportunity to adjust aperture, f-stop, and ISO to optimize how he captures the scene.

A geologist might see hundreds of millions of years of history, with sedimentary layers of sandstone and limestone and evidence of millenia of erosion.

A rock climber might see several 5+ pitches and a number of intriguing potential climbing routes.

A traveler might see similarities to formations previously viewed in Zion National Park.

A painter might see a challenge to recreate the variety and subtleties of colors and shadows in the scene.

A botanist might see a surrounding forest of juniper, pine, manzanita, and Arizona cypress.

So many different views of the same scenery! What you see depends on what you know; your perception is based on your understanding.

This is a principle that applies to all aspects of our life, including our interactions with one another. For example:

You see a black person demonstrating in the street. Depending on your background and understanding of current and historical issues, you may see an undisciplined troublemaker or an honest citizen trying to be recognized as deserving equal rights.

You see a woman in public on the street wearing a hijab (the Muslim head covering). Depending on your understanding of the beliefs of that group and the reason for the covering, you might see a modest and sincere person or you might see a threat to your way of life.

You see a child making scene in a grocery store. You might see a mother who doesn’t know how to control or discipline her children. Or you might see a mother trying to cope with a child who has emotional issues.

There are countless examples. All of this argues for us to try to understand more about the people, situations, and conditions around us. The more we learn and the more we comprehend, the more we can be understanding, sensitive, and kind to others.

I #GiveThanks for the message of the red cliff that inspires me to continue learning and growing.