I know I'm right!

25Mar
Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not arrest him?’ The police answered, ‘Never has anyone spoken like this!’ Then the Pharisees replied, ‘Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.’ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, ‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.’
-John 7:45-52


The Pharisees are concerned that folks are buying what Jesus is saying, and they don’t like it at all. Nicodemus, who has already talked to Jesus and does believe he is the one he says he is, attempts to get them to take a look at the way they “judge others without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing.” The Pharisees don’t hear a word Nicodemus says, responding confidently that “no prophet is to arise from Galilee.” Period. End of sentence. They are absolutely sure they know.


Human beings, myself included, do not like to be wrong. There are a couple of expressions that come to mind around this topic, “Would you rather be right or happy?” S/he is “often wrong, never in doubt.” Psychologists have many theories about why this human trait exists. Yet, with a great commitment and serious intention to work on our need to be right, most of us continue to really struggle. Our egos simply want to be right, safe and certain; anything else feels very unsettling. 


One event changed my confidence about being right, and I am deeply grateful for it. Eric and I were at a Christmas party, and a friend showed us her new digital camera. I decided that this camera was what I wanted for Christmas, and Eric and I went to the camera store to get it. I confidently asked the salesperson to show me the Olympus cameras. Eric said, “I think it was a Canon, not an Olympus.” At that point, I could clearly see the camera in my mind’s eye, complete with the word Olympus in its special font. I would have sworn under oath that it was an Olympus camera. Eric was just as sure it was a Canon, so we called the person who had shown us her camera. I said, “Your camera is an Olympus, correct?” She responded, “Oh no, it’s a Canon.” I was stunned and actually quite shaken—how could I have been that sure about something and be that wrong? I began to think of the number of people convicted of crimes they didn’t commit, because someone was so certain of what they had seen. The camera event changed me profoundly. I have never again been quite as sure of anything, which is a very good thing. 


How about you? Have you ever been positive about something and turned out to be wrong? What are you absolutely sure of now? Might you be wrong? 

Musical Reflection - Something so Right - Paul Simon


Gracious and loving God, please give us the wisdom to know when we are wrong and the grace to admit it first to ourselves and then to others. Help us to offer ourselves and others the same mercy you so freely offer to us. Amen.

JusticeLentRighteousness

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