perception
Another day, another word – and the one for today is perception. The meaning, given here for me as much as for anyone else, is the act or faculty of apprehending by means of the senses or the mind – or cognition – or awareness. And as we are well aware, perception is reality to the one doing the perceiving – whether or not the reality perceived is the same one to all perceivers involved.
While I might perceive that the carton of Breyer’s Natural Vanilla ice cream (made with real vanilla bean specks) is half-full, another might think that it is half-crazy to eat something with specks in it. Especially if they were going to try to eat it without a banana or chocolate syrup involved in the mix.
For something to be perceived, it must, to one degree or another, be perceptible or it must be recognizable and/or discernible. This is illustrated by the fact that ignorance and/or stupidity are not normally seen but the actions and results thereof are readily discernible. A case in point is a section of interstate nearby that is under construction. The speed limit is 45 and an observer of this limit will almost be run down and/or over – unless a flashing blue light is present nearby.
Perception varies from person to person and is altered by many things in their life and experiences. Perception is colored by our age, our expectations in life, where and how we were raised, even by the time of day or the season of the year and things as simple as whether or not we have a dog and what its name happens to be. Perception would certainly be changed by the number of children one has because with enough children one can hardly perceive much of anything else except them – unless it is something close to the magnitude of an atomic blast.
Then there is the concept of a precept and the question as to whether just any precept can become a percept. With the clouding issue of how complicated a particular precept happens to be and/or how perceptive the preceptor must be to be able to explain the precept in such a way that it would bring a bystander into perceivability.
This might also be complicated by the actual source of the precept. If the source was just within a family or perhaps a local ordinance, it is one thing – but if the source is something eternal and from the scripture, this is something else entirely. If the precept is adhered to, all the benefits promised therein belong to the obedient one, but if not, the noncompliant one will, at the very least, will be without the promised blessings.
Here is one of many precepts: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” ec
While I might perceive that the carton of Breyer’s Natural Vanilla ice cream (made with real vanilla bean specks) is half-full, another might think that it is half-crazy to eat something with specks in it. Especially if they were going to try to eat it without a banana or chocolate syrup involved in the mix.
For something to be perceived, it must, to one degree or another, be perceptible or it must be recognizable and/or discernible. This is illustrated by the fact that ignorance and/or stupidity are not normally seen but the actions and results thereof are readily discernible. A case in point is a section of interstate nearby that is under construction. The speed limit is 45 and an observer of this limit will almost be run down and/or over – unless a flashing blue light is present nearby.
Perception varies from person to person and is altered by many things in their life and experiences. Perception is colored by our age, our expectations in life, where and how we were raised, even by the time of day or the season of the year and things as simple as whether or not we have a dog and what its name happens to be. Perception would certainly be changed by the number of children one has because with enough children one can hardly perceive much of anything else except them – unless it is something close to the magnitude of an atomic blast.
Then there is the concept of a precept and the question as to whether just any precept can become a percept. With the clouding issue of how complicated a particular precept happens to be and/or how perceptive the preceptor must be to be able to explain the precept in such a way that it would bring a bystander into perceivability.
This might also be complicated by the actual source of the precept. If the source was just within a family or perhaps a local ordinance, it is one thing – but if the source is something eternal and from the scripture, this is something else entirely. If the precept is adhered to, all the benefits promised therein belong to the obedient one, but if not, the noncompliant one will, at the very least, will be without the promised blessings.
Here is one of many precepts: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” ec
posted by mreddie | 11:55 PM
3 Comments:
Another great word study! And the closing verse you quoted is one of my favorites. It is also a verse that I keep needing to practice now more than ever.
When you started talking about the ice cream being half empty, my first thought was 'who is raiding the refrigerator! Specks or not, that ice cream is off limits until I've got the pie baked.
And, yes, it acknowledge His glory and greatness should grace every day.
tim rice - One of my favorites as well and one of great guidance if followed.
bonita - While reading your comment I pictured a large juicy piece of apple pie with a huge dollop of vanilla ice cream on top (with real vanilla bean specks). ec
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