"TO THE 'KNOW-IT-ALLS' " in "WRITER@WORK"
- Aug. 14, 2015, 4:39 a.m.
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- Public
I may have already written something like this before, some time ago. I may not and I could have forgotten.
I remember reading a short travel article (perhaps based on a real experience) about an American family on a safari in an African country. (Sorry I forgot which one exactly.) One night while they were sitting around a bonfire, one of the kids saw a pair of shining eyes looking at them in the dark before they vanished. When they told their parents, their tour guide said something so chilling:
“What you’ve just seen is only a percentage (1%) of what sees you.”
I remember an interesting conversation with a teenage student who loves science. He said to me: “Miss, do you believe that – out of the entire universe around us – we only get to see and know about one percentage (1%) of it?”
It didn’t take long for me to say: “Yes.” It’s not just about faith; it’s logic. Just like a simple fact that even a genius has got something that they can’t do, something they’re not good at.
You may be jack-of-all-trades, but the truth is – you can only excel at about a very few in your life. I mean, what would possibly happen if a genius had no flaws and were that good at everything? If they had an amazing personality, they’d probably start taking up a lifetime career as a superhero. Sounds awesome, doesn’t it?
What if they didn’t have it? They could be the worst and most dangerous villain in the world. Since they knew everything and could do anything, they might possibly want to rule – dictating and telling other people what to do and how to live their lives.
They could also be the most reclusive loners, the ultimate anti-socials. They could do all on their own; why would they need anybody? Why should they interact with other people? They’re good enough being alone. Others are always full of flaws / imperfections to their eyes.
For those who believe: only God can do everything and know about anything. It’s impossible for any mortal to possess such qualities, no matter how good they are.
We’re not meant to know everything. You may claim you do about everything and everyone. You may think it’s okay to (harshly) judge them merely based on what (you think) you know. Well, you’re always welcome to do so. If they choose not to correct, clarify, or confirm what you think of them, perhaps they know that you always want to be right about everything and everybody. Why do they need to defend themselves, really? Why bother?
Are we really good? Hopefully. The trouble with being good is that creeping pride that can lead them to their fall. It’s the arrogance, the “I’m-better-than-you” attitude. Sometimes God lets them fall to remind them of their flaws or weaknesses, and that they don’t have to be so bloody arrogant about their abilities!
Are we really bad? Hopefully not. In the end, we can only try. We make mistakes, but if God sees that our regrets are real – who knows? Maybe He won’t just forgive us; He’ll help us to become better. After all, God is The Most Forgiving and Merciful.
The good thing about this? We don’t have to report to the world. It’s just between us and God; it’s (supposed to be) personal. Why do they have to know everything about us? They don’t. It’s none of their business.
To the ‘know-it-alls’, I’ve got bad news for you:
You don’t know everything and about everyone. You can’t possibly do, even when you’re way too sure of yourselves. Even if you’re gut-feeling or ‘third eye’ or whatever you want to call it tells you that this and that person might be up to no good, you could still be wrong. If they have never harmed you in any way, then why do you have to listen to and buy that evil voice inside your head? It might be The Devil playing up another trick or two on you. Believing in good things about others never hurts. If it turns out that you’re wrong, it’s not because you’re stupid.
It’s because you’re only human. Anyone is also capable of relieving negative burdens (anger, jealousy, envy, prejudice, vengeance, vanity / narcissism, and arrogance) while praying anything good for others, but only if they want to.
I don’t know everything. I just share what I know and believe.
R.
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