The blind men and the elephant

In the allegory of the blind men and the elephant, a group of men who cannot see, and who have never come across an elephant before, learn and imagine what an elephant is like by touching it. Each man feels a different part of the animal’s body, such as the trunk or a tusk. They then discuss the animal based on their limited experience.

But their descriptions of the elephant are different from each other. Soon they come to suspect each other as dishonest, and they come to blows (see “Blind men and an elephant,” wikipedia.org). The story illustrates the idea that if we claim absolute truth based on our own personal, limited experience, we may miss out on knowing the whole picture.

I’ve found this story helpful in thinking about politically charged election seasons, when differing opinions may cause anger and confrontation to flare up. Division may arise when our conclusions don’t mesh with another’s. We may wonder what those holding different opinions could possibly be thinking.

At times like this it can be helpful to consider where we’re drawing our conclusions about other people or situations from. In my study and practice of Christian Science I’ve seen how turning to God, Spirit, for inspiration and truth brings the clearest, most healing view.

Christian Science teaches that God alone is all-knowing and all-seeing. God knows everything that’s good and true about His children. God knows us not as combative mortals, but as His spiritual offspring, reflecting Him in every way. Christ, the divine ideal that Jesus demonstrated, enables each of us to know the pure, spiritual man of the divine Mind’s knowing – even seeing that in another holding a differing opinion.

In “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, writes, “Reasoning from cause to effect in the Science of Mind, we begin with Mind, which must be understood through the idea which expresses it and cannot be learned from its opposite, matter. Thus we arrive at Truth, or intelligence, which evolves its own unerring idea and never can be coordinate with human illusions” (pp. 467-468).

As we look to God, infinite Mind, to define us, we grow into the understanding of everyone’s divine right and ability to express intelligence and kindness. We no longer feel we need to force an issue with others and get them to see things our way, but are charitable and kind as we realize that relying on the physical senses clouds our view of divine Truth and Spirit. Blindness can be viewing our fellow men and women from a limited, material perspective. It is like forming an opinion of someone by looking through a straw – it can only give limited information.

But we can trust that our heavenly Father loves and guides us in knowing everyone’s true, spiritual, intelligent, loving nature as His children. God gives us all the capacity to gather the spiritual facts of existence when we turn to Him in prayer. That’s not to say we all must have the same opinions. But it causes us to come to just and equitable conclusions, to overcome fear of an unfavorable outcome, and to resist the pull of anger and reactiveness that leads to confusion and upheaval. In this way we can contribute to harmony and progress even when confronted with opposing opinions.

At one point, an election to fill a particular office was being held at my church. I was convinced that I was the right person to fill the position, and arrived at the meeting ready to accept the nomination. However, I was not elected.

It turned out that I did not know best. Not only did completely unforeseen circumstances mean that I was no longer available to fill the position by the time it was to begin, but also, the person who had been elected did an excellent job. The outcome blessed us all, and showed that pride is not the most useful lens to look through.

We don’t have to hold to rigid opinions based on a limited, material view of the world around us. Instead we can let spiritual sense inspire us to continue to love our neighbors – even those we disagree with – the way Christ Jesus taught. We can trust that God is here to lead all of us to answers that bless.