Point of View Truths
Several years ago I received a copy of the following story. It hit me with deep impact. Maybe it was because my own mother taught me at an early age that a great person always argued a point from the opposite side before casting an opinion, or maybe it’s just because it’s a fantastic story. At any rate, it’s worth sharing.
~~~~~~~~~~
Limited Vision
Four people were in a barn and each one had a knothole to look through. One looked to the east, one to the west, one to the south and one to the north.
The person looking to the east saw the sun come up and said, “The whole world is nothing but sunrises”
The person looking to the west said, “You are wrong, the whole world is nothing but sunsets.”
The person to the north who could see nothing but a haystack said, “You are both wrong, the entire world is nothing but hay.”
The fourth person looking to the south said, “I can’t understand how all of you can be so stupid. The world is nothing but bales of straw.”
~~~~~~~~~~
From his own viewpoint, each was right. But, obviously, each one’s viewpoint was limited by the size and direction of the knothole through which he was looking.
Get on top of the barn, look in all directions before casting your certainty on a matter. Know that your ideas may be right, but this does not necessarily make the other fellow’s wrong. He may be seeing the same wide, wonderful world through a different knothole.
Technorati Tags:
Sharing Emotions Inspiration Perspectives Balance
Like this article? 
GREAT STORY! That is really excellent. I’ll certainly use it in the future.
And thanks for weighing in on the feedreader question on my blog. I can’t believe how much I don’t know!!!
Thanks Kelly! Some gems are worth repeating aren’t they? And you’re welcome on the feedreader. You’re so not alone though in how much you don’t know. This whole thing has been such a learning curve for me!
Comment by Pass the Torch — October 23, 2006 @ 4:18 pm
I love it!! That is such a powerful story and so very true!!
Aurelia, it’s always so great to *see* you. I’m glad you thought it as powerful as I did!
Comment by Aurelia — October 23, 2006 @ 7:52 pm
Excellent! Perhaps this should be require reading before anyone can run for office.
ROFL - great idea! Thanks for dropping by and commenting. I have to admit when I read your comment the first time the show “The Office” was what came to mind. I had to re-read it to get it right! How sad am I? ROFL
Comment by Daddy Forever — October 23, 2006 @ 8:01 pm
What a great story. It really makes it’s point. Thanks for sharing this.
Speaking of thanks, thank you for the great idea of responding to comments this way! It makes so much sense to me so I’m totally going to be a copy cat. ;o)
Comment by Kailani — October 23, 2006 @ 10:34 pm
[...] Point of View Truths If You’re Going To Write What’s In a Name? [...]
Pingback by Holly’s Corner Blog » The Know Factor — February 19, 2009 @ 1:18 pm