The nature of illusion is that it’s designed to make you feel good. About yourself, about your country, about where you’re going – in that sense it functions like a drug. Those who question that illusion are challenged not so much for the veracity of what they say, but for puncturing those feelings.
—Chris Hedges, Journalist
This quote is evocative! It resonates for me on the level of my faith journey over the last fifteen years. But it’s true on many other levels too.
More often than not, when we hear opposing views, it’s not the person or their views that we’re rejecting; it’s the feelings of security, or being right, or relationships with those who share our views, that we fear losing.
‘If that is true, I’ll lose…’ (Fill in the blank.) And so we cling to what we know, what we’re familiar with, what feels safe. Usually, it is just plain easier to stick with the views we already hold, whether religious, political, or whatever. There is always a cost to moving away from views and beliefs we’ve built our lives around. It’s not surprising we rarely choose to embrace those costs.
But if we want to be people who genuinely pursue truth wherever it may lead us there is perhaps no harder – and, often, lonelier – path to walk.
–Sam
Got some thoughts on this? I’d love to hear from you – do hit reply or drop me a note.
@samradford | samradford.com
Got some thoughts on this? I’d love to hear from you – do hit reply or drop me a note.
@samradford | samradford.com