I
often hear it said that human beings differ from animals in having
self-awareness, or understanding that we will die one day, or that we have
morality.
Preachers
say this kind of thing a lot. And I
think – How can you possibly know that?
And – So what?
What’s
the point in making that comparison? Who
cares? What’s the advantage in thinking
myself more moral than an iguana or a three-toed sloth?
And
I recollect an acquaintance who was fond of making similar human-to-human
comparisons – telling me not many people would have thought of choosing the
décor she settled on for her kitchen, or that most people would have gone to
Spain but she went to Gibraltar, or that not many people would have thought of
wearing the colour combination she had on today. Yawn. Who cares?
So what?
What’s
the purpose in these comparisons? Are we
really that insecure, needing to be the Only Ones, the Special People, rare and
refined and discerning?
A
choice is ethical or not. I like this
skirt or I don’t. Does it really matter if a giraffe would never have thought of it or my Great-Aunt Nora would
never have worn it with that cardigan?
8 comments:
...love this one...I want to write about it...but oh it would be such an opinion about sooo many people...and I'm trying to resist the best I can!1 Thankyou .
When people aren't secure in who they are they need to make comparisons. It started in the Garden, Adam and Eve were made to question that what they had wasn't good enough...that there was more 'out there' that they could have. That somehow what they were and what they had wasn't 'enough'. The rest of humanity have been repeating the same thing ever since. It's only when our security is in God that we no longer feel the need to be like that.
Only my opinion ;-D I know others may not agree and I'm fine with that :-D
Well, I don't really care, either, but I can remember when I was over concerned about it. Ahhhhhh.....one less worry!
:). Sherry
I think you need to read my most recent blog post on the book by Eckhart Tolle :)) xx
Ummm...and is a comparison the same as an opinion ???? :)
Hi friends
Gerry - yes, the better part of valour is discretion . . .
Debs - it goes back a long way, then!
Sherry - there's been a thing going round on Facebook about how you just outgrow some people and move on - I think this may be a case in point.
Lynda - ooh - thanks for the heads-up - I'll go and take a look! Is a comparison the same as an opinion? I''m not sure. Have I made any comparisons here?
Well again Pen, you've made me think. I used to do this( compare) a lot and yes I was insecure. I allowed myself to compare, which resulted in insecurity. It's taken me a long time to be comfortable with who I am. Comparisons can be very belittling. He made me the way I am and now I just try to be the best I can be. I enjoy my friends because they are different. So like Gerry I really love this one.
Blessings Gail.
Hooray - well done you - what a lovely testimony! x
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