I saw this picture of Sojourner Truth a few days ago with the following caption and I knew I had to blog about it: “I sell the shadow to support the substance.”
Sometimes hard facts are what you need.
But so often, when you are trying to convince someone of something or trying to understand something yourself, it is the essence of the facts– or the essence of the larger point– that you are looking for.
I’ve found that people who can easily grasp the essence of the matter at hand, or the “shadow” as Sojourner Truth says here, are often the most flexible and humane people I meet.
Rigidity and needing every fact can be toxic to understanding the world around you and getting along with others.
Being open, flexible, and grasping the issue at hand from the facts is a gift.
