What if...?

Having recently read an article detailing some historically significant events, and then reading the comments in which some responders refuted the validity of the details documented in the article, it caused me to wonder, to ask the question, “What if…?”

“What if…?” Now this is a difficult question! What if what we read, hear, see, believe, have been taught is not 100% accurate? Bunker Hill as it was reported and is still referenced actually took place at Breed’s Hill.  

It makes me wonder why we believe the things that we do. It makes me wonder how many things we take at face value may not be 100% true or accurate.

Now recognizing there must always be a starting point of acceptance as to what is “real”, I am the kind of person who continually asks “what if…?” Why, because way too many people accept things as accurate or true based on the accounts, beliefs, and practices of others.

In some instances this is fine. I do not need to snort cocaine to know in doing so this will not end in a good day. I also know without doing that standing in front of a semi barreling down the highway will not turn out well. Likewise, to believe something based on what another believes has no better ending in my opinion than the two examples, not a very good day!

Walt Whitman in Leaves of Grass wrote, “You shall no longer take things at second or third hand.... nor look through the eyes of the dead.... nor feed on the spectres in books,
You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me,
You shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself.”

Pretty good advice I do believe!  

So question what you see, what you hear, what you are told. And my advice as I shared often with my boys, run as fast as you can from the one who claims to have all the answers or their way is the best or only way to do something!

Come on! We are all too complex to have a “one size, one way fits all” way of living. We are all on this journey and thankfully for each of us it is unique!

What if…?