Monday, July 01, 2013

The Black and White of it


When we're young, we see things as right or wrong, black or white, yes or no. We are apt to rail against what we see as unfair behavior. Hopefully, we don't lose the ability to see the differences, but as we go through life, we come to realize that there are circumstances, and everything is not so easily defined. We survive life's ordeals; events that we would never have thought survivable. 

We find ourselves trying to understand the place that brings some people to say and do things that we don't understand. The phrases "Walk a mile in his shoes" and "there, but for the grace of God, go I" soften our indignation somewhat. Not to make excuses for their transgressions, but to feel some empathy for them. 

We must always stand for right and defend those who cannot defend themselves, but we should also understand that every man has his breaking point.

2 comments:

John - Visual Notebook said...

I find as a get older, I see less and less in simple black and white. Seems I'm getting more empathetic, more sympathetic to situations. But what's really weird, is the older I get the more attracted I am to black and white photography.

Like this image. Nice!

monte Stevens said...

First of all, this is a lovely shot! Yes, at some point in our lives we learn to see dualistically, black and white. And, we find those things we like and dislike: food tastes come to mind. I see more gray in life now. I'm leaning to see those areas where I have more defined lines which allows me to be transformed within me. Understanding others ideas, words and actions are not as important to me as they were in past. Most answers seem to come from within. Yet, I still find my breaking point. A nice post, Faye!