You better check yourself, before you wreck yourself...sucka

Lenses. Biases. We all have them. They influence our outlook on things and relate to our responses. And through these lenses we develop a “lifeview”, causing us to make judgments and decisions. My hope is that our actions and beliefs are subject to change in terms of adjusting to the truth. And I propose that regardless of our lenses and biases there is a viewpoint and a response deserving of truthful thinking.

So I ask: Is there a correct lens? Is there a lens that shows us an appropriate perspective; where people are more valuable than objects? Where strength is found in weakness? Where money holds no value? Where freedom is found in letting go of control? Where peace is found in submission? Where honor is found in service? Is there a lens which shows us the more important things, the things beneath the surface of this life?

Are we looking for that lens or are we content living within our current worldview, content with our perspective? Are we done learning and changing?

If all we have are individual opinions then I can validate my own truth in my own mind without testing its quality. In a system of values where there is a catalogue of viewpoints, it is important to realize what is fake and what is real. Our views need to be tested against universal truths. We need to question whether or not our beliefs are based on truth, what we can accept, or what we want to reject? I propose that many views are largely based on what we are willing to accept and what we want to reject. It is a question of whether or not we can we submit ourselves to the truth, knowing that our viewpoints hold inaccurate biases at times? Knowing this, can we readjust our outlook to let go of the things we cannot explain, but know to be true? We can convince ourselves that what we believe is right rather than test our ideas for validity in the real world.

The truth is, we need accountability within our beliefs. We need different viewpoints and thoughts. We need the stories of others. We need their struggles, disbeliefs, and wrestlings. We need to be taught new truths, to be called out on our faults, and to be accept the unknows in this life. None of us have all of the answers. But many of us have bits of the truth. And we must accept that we are a bit flawed and biased in how we look at things.

One principle that has spoken true to me about a correct outlook is called the fundamental attribution error. The "error" takes place when we place too large an emphasis on personal character without validating the environment as an equal affect. This occurs when we look at a homeless person and call them lazy without knowing how they got there or the circumstances within. Our outlook is a battle ground between pride and humility and neither can suffer the other. Change is not always the enemy, nor is it always the answer. In the words of the band Switchfoot "this is your life, are you who you want to be?"

Think about it.