Mid-week Inspiration,

During this week one word has been at the top of every conflict I have had; opinion. My every conflict has been based upon two sides being entrenched in their opinions.  We have personal opinions, doctors opinions, legal opinions and every other opinion,  and all of them absolutely correct?

Often I have found opinions to be the greatest obstacle to honesty.  In conflict we are so caught up in our opinions we can’t imagine that they may not work for another person.  We can’t begin to imagine that 'our' beliefs we have often unconsciously accepted from our society could be so completely juxtaposed to the needs, desires and beliefs of other individuals that they may not work.

Here is a scenario; the story of the Stolen Goose which will illustrate my point:

Confessor: I have stolen a fat goose from a poultry yard!
Priest: That is very wrong.
Confessor: Would you like to accept it, Father?
Priest: Certainly not- return it to the man whom you stole it from.
Confessor: But I have offered it to him and he won't have it.
Priest: In that case you may keep it yourself.
Confessor: Thank you, Father.
The Priest arrived home to find one of his geese had been stolen...

What I find disturbing in our society is that we teach the value of opinions over intentions and passion on a daily basis; it is the methodology of our scholastic system for the most part.  Curriculum, class content, grades and overall averages are far more relevant than our children’s interests and passions.  In fact although we claim that our young students’ passions are important this is generally only nurtured if they discover their passion pursuing things important in our own opinions.

Recently I read an article on the challenges of communication for the ‘West’ and North Korea.  They basically came down to cultural opinions; opinions built right into the languages. 
It has often been a society’s adherence and imposition of opinions, of rights and wrongs, of good and bad that has ultimately led to war.  Throughout history it has been those people with the ability to manipulate others opinions in their favour that have risen to places of power; who have caused the great wars of the ages. 

It is time we of this world let go of our needs to be right and allow ourselves to be healed.  It is time we stopped judging others according to our opinions, our limited information and start imagining their real needs and need based intentions.  What ‘they’, those disagreeable others might really want is freedom and security to express themselves in a healthy environment and if we can just suspend our opinions we can help this to be achieved.