When you know, you know. When you don't, better never find out.
By Anna Atsu
Would you forgive betrayal?
Would you break the law?
Would you physically agress someone?
How do you know?
Knowledge is a double-edged sword, a guiding light that illuminates our path yet also casts shadows of uncertainty. When we possess a deep understanding of our values, we may believe we can predict our actions in various scenarios. Perhaps we reassure ourselves that we would forgive betrayal or are certain of our limits of forgiveness. Maybe we think we would always uphold the law, and refrain from physical aggression. But such certainty is built upon the assumption that we comprehend the depths of our convictions.
In truth, there are realms of our psyche shrouded in mystery, where the darkness of ambiguity reigns supreme. It is in these uncharted territories that the true test of character lies. It is easy to proclaim forgiveness until faced with the sting of betrayal. It is simple to pledge allegiance to the law until circumstances compel us to question its righteousness. It is effortless to denounce violence until pushed to the brink of desperation.
How do we truly know ourselves? How can we be certain of our responses in extreme situations? The unsettling reality is that we cannot. And perhaps, it is better this way. For there are questions for which we dare not seek answers, for fear of unraveling the delicate threads of our moral fabric.
Let us tread cautiously, acknowledging the limits of our self-awareness.
Let us cultivate humility in the face of uncertainty, recognising that our understanding of ourselves is but a fleeting glimpse into the vastness of our complexity.
And let us pray that we never find ourselves in the throes of extremity, for it is in those moments that our true nature may be revealed in ways we never dared to imagine.
Ps:
We don’t always need extreme situations to discover ourselves.
They say “Knowledge is power”, but I came to believe that discovery can be even more empowering.
So, for you today: no cakes, no jokes,
just a simple wish:
to discover today what you would like to know,
and a prayerful hope that you will never find the answers to the tricky questions.