“We met in October 2008. I came to my first Feast at Windmill that December.”
“I didn’t live at Windmill in 2008. I got married in 2008. I lived at Coronado when I got married.”
“I know I had my first Feast at Windmill.”
“That’s not possible. After the rehearsal dinner my friends and cousins came over, definitely at Coronado.”
“So?”
“And I remember moving from Windmill to Coronado. We used John’s flatbed trailer. It was just an across-the-street move.”
“When you came in the door of Windmill your kitchen was on the left. It was small and triangular. The guest room / office was past the bathroom. There were stairs from the living room up to your bedroom loft.”
“I proposed March 29, 2007. I’m sure of it. We got married that October. October 20, 2007.” It *was* 2007 wasn’t it? How am I feeling uncertain about what year I got married?? “We lived at Coronado for the wedding. There’s no way you had your first Feast at Windmill.”
“I did. One of us is very wrong about this.”
“Yeah, and I know when I got married.”
We sat in sullen silence for minutes.
She drove.
I brooded.
I have worked at readily admitting when I’m wrong, with intention, since college. Yet I still struggle. More accurately, admitting when I’m wrong comes easily now. Recognizing when I’m wrong, though; that still trips me up.
“…did I live at Windmill after Coronado…?”
“Yes. You must have.”
“So… it was Coronado, then Windmill, then Hartsel?”
“Yup.”
“But I remember moving! …? Was it from Coronado to Windmill? Huh. Is it the direction of the move I’m remembering wrong? I guess that works. Your first Feast was really at Windmill??”
“Yes. That’s what I’ve been saying.“
This was just this past Saturday. And this is the mercifully abbreviated version.
What separates an open mind from a closed one is the humility of uncertainty.
Science is the iron law of facts: tested and proven. To be scientifically minded is to accept facts and act according to their implications. Yet the cornerstone of science is the humility of uncertainty. To question facts. To accept new data, wrestle your world view accordingly, and adapt.
There is far more unknown than known.
When was the last time you were wrong?
How long was it before “I might be wrong…“ slipped into your mind?
Were you brave enough to say it out loud?
How much longer did you grapple with cognitive dissonance before accepting it?
Tell me. Share your story. I’ll share a handful of the best responses.
Seek new facts.
Share those discoveries.
Stop lobbing opinions and sound bites at each other.
I believe the world, the country, your own day-to-day life, will be calmed, clarified, and made infinite by straining to hold your mind open rather than letting it snap shut like a rusty bear trap.
But I might be wrong…
Have you read Mindset by Carol S. Dweck? Your idea being open minded and the vast imications and consequences that has in our lives. Interesting read. ❤️ Mom
I have not, but it sounds familiar… It’s added to my Amazon Book List!
Gordon… lovely post. The ‘humility of uncertainty.’ It’s what brings me to faith. Why should I be closed minded? Why shouldn’t I leave myself open to being wrong? Not knowing? Curiosity is the fountain of youth.
Socrates wrote that man’s most destructive characteristic is believing he knows that which he does not know. When I first read that, and reflected on some really poor characteristics of man, I thought Socrates choice was rather trivial. However, upon further reflection, Socrates seems spot on, as that characteristic leads to sooooo much destructive behavior, though it cloaks itself innocently enough.