There are always two sides to every story. However,
sometimes we get so immersed in our own experience that it becomes a narrative.
Our own perspective blinds objectivity.
I have always wanted to pursue photojournalism. I really
enjoy the way photographs speak directly to the heart of man. I love the way a
single photo can say a million different things depending on someone’s
perspective and their willingness to understand. Or we can simply look at a
photo and make a snap judgment without having any context to what we are
seeing.
enjoy the way photographs speak directly to the heart of man. I love the way a
single photo can say a million different things depending on someone’s
perspective and their willingness to understand. Or we can simply look at a
photo and make a snap judgment without having any context to what we are
seeing.
Lets do an “experiment.� Study the photo below. What do you
see happening?
see happening?
Most likely you look at this photo and see a beggar reaching
out to a crowd that is completely ignoring her existence. Right?
Well, what if I told you that just moments before I shot
this photo, a girl in the crowd had just knelt down beside the beggar to give her the
leftovers from her lunch. And the moment I captured is actually the woman saying
“thank you.�
this photo, a girl in the crowd had just knelt down beside the beggar to give her the
leftovers from her lunch. And the moment I captured is actually the woman saying
“thank you.�
Would that change your perspective?
Of course it would,
because there are always two sides to every story.
because there are always two sides to every story.
There is a proverb:
“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in
their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them
and you have their shoes.�
their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them
and you have their shoes.�
Wait…er…that’s not it. Here:
“Before criticizing a man, walk a mile in his shoes.�
Hopefully we strive to be individuals that won’t allow criticism
to take hold of our heart. Instead, I pray that we are people that seek to
understand before needing to be understood. Man that’s tough. I’m walking
through that process right now. And it’s bittersweet. Whenever I discover areas
that reveal me clinging to my need to be understood, it ends up leaving a
bitter taste in my mouth. However, when I surrender what I think I’m entitled
to, the sweetness of seeking to understand is like honey on my lips.
to take hold of our heart. Instead, I pray that we are people that seek to
understand before needing to be understood. Man that’s tough. I’m walking
through that process right now. And it’s bittersweet. Whenever I discover areas
that reveal me clinging to my need to be understood, it ends up leaving a
bitter taste in my mouth. However, when I surrender what I think I’m entitled
to, the sweetness of seeking to understand is like honey on my lips.
And once I’ve tasted the honey, I can’t help but crave it
more and more.
more and more.
