.Monday, April 05, 2010 ' 12:34 AM Y
A plain paper bag
This plain paper bag caught my attention and set me thinking. Somehow I find it real unique and I can't tell why. It feels like sth is missing on this paper bag, it looks quite out of place amongst all the rest of the paper bags. But I find it really nice cause it's hard to find one plain one nowadays.
A second thought made me realised why it's unique. Cause it has no advertising messages on it, no maketing message or whatsoever, just a plain paper bag serving it's only purpose, to carry things.
I realised how we are tuned to a world of advertisements, marketing messages bombarding us every min every sec. The shirt that u wear which carries the loud logo, the brand of bag that u carry, the type of phone that u use, all these subtlely define who we are and what we believe in. The moment we step out of the house, on the way in public transports, in our offices, at our homes, we are constantly exposed to different messages shouting at us! "just do it", "impossible is nothing", "connecting people", "I'm lovin it", "好友满天下＂ etc. And it's up to us to decide for ourselves what to belive and which to believe. Or simply, what to judge and how to judge.
Judgement is a very subjective thing. It is a mean which we filter the messages coming to us and what we allow in and what we disallow, which ultimately formulates our belief systems and values in life.
In a place where there are different opinions flying around, we judge. Similarly like what we would do when there are tons of advertising messages strucking us. We choose what is the best product for us. For us to believe in a product, most often we put down other products. Just like how we have decided to take stand for an opinion, we jolly well put down the rest too.
Opinions can be constructive or destructive. In offices, in ministries, even in the way we handle our lives invites opinions. Call it growing up or engaging the marketplace, it seems like I'm exposed to opinions more than ever. I am
learning to trust myself n cast my own judgement. I need more wisdom from the Holy Spirit each day of my life. Doing nothing wrong doesn't mean you are right. Doing nothing right doesn't mean your are wrong either. You don't have to do anything wrong to be in the right. So who is qualified to judge? Only the Word.
Sometimes I have to remind myself to shut myself to opinions and learn to trust myself. But sometimes I avoid forming my own opinion of things till
I am no longer true to myself. Sometimes too much of shutting myself also causes indifference. I'm still learning to strike a balance.
Lord, keep me meek.
Having an opinion is not wrong, but speak it in love. Speaking out your opinion doesn't make you more superior than others. It doesn't show that u are more experienced than the rest. It is the way you speak your opinion that matters.
In an environment where messages are bombarded at us fighting for our attention, I chose a simple plain paper bag over a fanciful one which still hold the same function- to carry in order to facilitate a neater and more conducive enviroment.
