By: Maggie A. Escoto
"If
one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame." (Proverbs 18:13)
Have you ever been in a conversation with a person who
will not keep quiet long enough to listen in order to obtain at least a little
bit of knowledge about a particular subject whether it be a definition, about
culture, or even just about as to why a particular thought process brings one
to a particular decision?
We often tend to
interrupt someone’s thoughts not allowing them to finish their rationalizations
before we feel the need to put in our two cents. We make conjectures (assumptions or
speculations) in advance and we presume.
To
presume means to suppose that something is
probably the case without facts. If we have no understanding of a culture, or
another’s reasoning or motives, why or how would we even think that we should
be giving our opinions? Unfortunately, we do it any way….we
just assume. This usually makes us look like fools. And if we look like fools, for
certain no one will want or ask to listen to our opinions.
Assumptions and presumptions create difficulties and
challenges in our interaction with others and in our relationships. In “Madea”
language, we just need to learn to put the SHUT to the UP!
James writes in James 1:19, “My
dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to
listen, slow to speak…”
In other words, we need to learn how not to open mouth and insert foot
before putting brain in motion.
