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10/10/2017
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Canon Steve Williams, Bishop of Manchester's interfaith adviser.
Last on
Tue 10 Oct 2017
05:43
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Script
Good morning.
The judgement you give is the judgement you get.
I love the story about that great writer and academic, C.S. Lewis.Β Β He was in a first class railway compartment, looking a bit scruffy and as though he really belonged somewhere else, much to the disgust of a very well-to-do person who couldn't understand why they were sharing some top-notch accommodation with such a character.Β Eventually, the smartly dressed traveller decided to challenge him - and asked him:Β "Sir, do you mind my asking, but do you have a first class ticket?"
C.S. Lewis saw right through this.
"Oh yes, my friend," he said.Β "But I shall be needing it for myself."
I'm making judgements all the time about the people around me - and they're usually quick and lazy.Β
The American-Israeli writer Thomas Kahneman, in his book Thinking Fast and Slow, says this is how we survive - fast thinking, instant judgements, to make this complex world manageable.Β But he says we mustn't let our perception stop there.Β For those instant judgements can be inaccurate, unfair or even downright prejudicial or discriminatory.Β Just look at the speed of the verdicts delivered on social media - unreflective, sometimes ferocious and often unkind.
The philosopher Simone Weil said that the least selfish gift you can give someone is your attention.Β That means spending time, slow thinking, taking in who the other person is and what they are saying, and aware of any hidden bias or prejudice they may be prompting within you.
Lord God of life, you pay attention to us, help us pay attention to all whom you have made:Β may I be eager to listen, swift to see and slow to speak, for you've given me two ears, two eyes and just one mouth.Β Amen.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
The judgement you give is the judgement you get.
I love the story about that great writer and academic, C.S. Lewis.Β Β He was in a first class railway compartment, looking a bit scruffy and as though he really belonged somewhere else, much to the disgust of a very well-to-do person who couldn't understand why they were sharing some top-notch accommodation with such a character.Β Eventually, the smartly dressed traveller decided to challenge him - and asked him:Β "Sir, do you mind my asking, but do you have a first class ticket?"
C.S. Lewis saw right through this.
"Oh yes, my friend," he said.Β "But I shall be needing it for myself."
I'm making judgements all the time about the people around me - and they're usually quick and lazy.Β
The American-Israeli writer Thomas Kahneman, in his book Thinking Fast and Slow, says this is how we survive - fast thinking, instant judgements, to make this complex world manageable.Β But he says we mustn't let our perception stop there.Β For those instant judgements can be inaccurate, unfair or even downright prejudicial or discriminatory.Β Just look at the speed of the verdicts delivered on social media - unreflective, sometimes ferocious and often unkind.
The philosopher Simone Weil said that the least selfish gift you can give someone is your attention.Β That means spending time, slow thinking, taking in who the other person is and what they are saying, and aware of any hidden bias or prejudice they may be prompting within you.
Lord God of life, you pay attention to us, help us pay attention to all whom you have made:Β may I be eager to listen, swift to see and slow to speak, for you've given me two ears, two eyes and just one mouth.Β Amen.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
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