My youngest daughter is a very skilled photographer (a father is allowed to boast if its true, right?) She has an eye for the details that make the difference between a good picture and a great picture, and she has developed the technical skills to then produce that shot with her camera. So I showed her some photos that I thought were pretty good, to get her opinion. Did I mention that my daughter can also be brutally honest? She started with some kind words, pointing out some things that caught her eye, and then started digging into the details of what she saw. It was quite an education for me, and when she was done, I still saw photos that I liked, but I clearly saw those things that could have been addressed to improve the images.
Many of us may reach the conclusion that art is subjective. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, isn’t it? Yet what was pointed out to me wasn’t something subjective; rather, it was a series of little details that cleaned things up, made things stand out more, and did contribute to a better image. My expert photographer knew her craft, and her objectivity revealed weaknesses that I had otherwise been oblivious to. From that, I took away two good life lesson-type affirmations.
First, experts see things that non-experts don’t see. For the sake of not getting into a quagmire, let’s just agree that I’m not talking about credentials, but rather about expertise that has been established through countless hours of learning and practice. Someone who has done that sort of work has the ability to see and understand things that those who haven’t done that work don’t see. More importantly, they see things that it never even occurs to us to think might be important. When someone has expertise in an area, we need to at least acknowledge that their knowledge will necessarily give them a different perspective. That doesn’t mean that we will automatically agree with them, but we should recognize that they likely have information that we don’t, and if we had that information, our opinion might be the one that changes.
Second, when an expert is willing to share their knowledge, non-experts can benefit greatly if they are willing to learn. One new piece of information can have the result of a light switch being turned on, revealing an entirely new view of a particular issue that we would have otherwise been blind to. However, that only happens if we are willing to admit that we don’t know something and will learn from those who have wisdom and experience in a particular field.
Are you an expert in something? Be willing to share that knowledge with inquisitive folks around you. Do you lack knowledge in an area? Seek out someone who you think qualifies as an expert, and ask them questions. We all have much to offer, and also much to learn. Let’s cut each other some slack, commit to growing together, and enjoy the ride.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron