We have so much to learn, all of us. And if I’m going to be wrong – which will likely be a lot of the time – I’d rather be wrong in the direction:

– of grace, 

– of refraining from peremptory judgement,

– of a wide-open heart,

– of humility,

– and of understanding that I still have a mountain more to learn.

I was up fairly early again this morning. As you can see, the leaves are just about gone now; the sense of winter is settling in, there’s a chill in the air, and December is just a few hours away. I have my first head-cold of the season, and it’s a doozy.

But I went out anyway, headed for the “hole in the wall” Wake Forest breakfast joint where I met a couple of my small-group guys for breakfast. We talked Thanksgiving, faith, children, work, international travel, news media, and politics. It’s the communication part I want to write about today.

COMMON GROUND: We were talking about the challenges involved when creative, talented people come together to solve real problems.

The conversation started out from a technical perspective. One of my friends facilitates meetings where people from several continents get together to wrestle with product development issues pertaining to safety. Sometimes – for example – a, “We can’t let this machine self-immolate,” concern runs head-first into a very legitimate “Protect the environment at all costs” question.

The bottom line turns out to be this: “If neither party is willing to move even a hair toward center, then we go out of business.”

NEWS FILTER: We immediately noted the similar challenges involved when it comes to sharing information in any venue. As information consumers, we seldom have the opportunity to examine facts absent slant.

“If I watch the same news incident on both CNBC and FOX,” one of my friends said, “it comes across as a completely different story.”

Indeed. How are we supposed to come to intelligent conclusions when the “facts” have been filtered, touched up, slanted, and opinionated by “news personalities” who have a stake in the political process?

What if we heard about what’s going on in the world without the information being presented by people who already have their minds made up?

Too many conversations are in actuality debates. But if we already “know” that we are right and they are wrong, then why waste everyone’s time?

Industry doesn’t work that way – at least not industry that’s remained relevant and competitive in the new Millennium – so why can’t the talking heads learn something?

WISDOM: This is where – in my humble opinion – the Bible has a lot to say to help us.

You’ve heard of sin, right? Well it got its start with people being fooled into believing that wisdom is about being right, and that knowledge boils down to the literal interpretation of words. Or, to put it in the childish terms that fit, “I know better.”

Not, “I have something to learn,” or, “Let’s talk about this;” but, “I already know,” “I know better,” “It is written!” and, “I don’t need any accountability.”

Sin is not so much about breaking a particular rule as it is believing that we have nothing to learn.

God save us from people who already know that they are right and everyone else is wrong.

WRAP: Anyway, it was a good conversation. It always is with these guys.

We have so much to learn, all of us. And if I’m going to be wrong – which will likely be a lot of the time – I’d rather be wrong in the direction of grace, of refraining from peremptory judgement, of a wide-open heart, of humility, and of understanding that I still have a mountain more to learn.

In the Advent blessings of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy – DEREK