Reality is based on one's perspective, surroundings and experiences. This reality however, is not necessarily the reality or perspectives of others who enjoy different perspectives due to their differing surroundings and experiences. Einstein illuminated the world with the introduction of the Theory of Special Relativity which in simplicity states that it is impossible to determine whether or not you are moving unless you can look at another object.
Think about that. If you were in the middle of outer space far from any other objects, how would you know whether or not you were moving? All movement is relative to other objects. For example, right now relative to your computer you are not moving at all, but relative to the distant quasars you are moving at nearly the speed of light. Relative to the Earth, most meteorites move at about 25,000 miles an hour (40,233 km), but if you were standing on a meteorite looking at another meteorite going in the same direction as you and at the same speed, it would not appear to move at all.
Imagine a girl riding due west in a train traveling 60mph while a boy stands on the ground watching the train go by. Each feels like they are motionless until they compare themselves to their surroundings. Which one is moving the boy or the girl? Is the train moving 60mph or is the train standing still while the ground with the boy actually moving? Reason exclaims, "it's the train that is moving". However, perspective is everything, what neither can see from their point of perspective is that the earth itself is rotating in it's orbit at 1070mph and the fact that the train is traveling west against the direction of the earth's rotation the girl is actually slowing the speed she is traveling in space/time slowing her speed to 1010mph, 60mph slower than the boy who is standing still! Wow-that'll blow your mind.
In that same example, if that same girl on the train drops a ball to her the ball travels straight down with gravity hitting the floor directly beneath her, while the boy not on the train does not see the ball fall in a straight line but in an arc moving in direction of the train so that in the time the girl lets go of the ball the ball continues to travel east at the speed of the train. So which is truth: does the ball fall straight or does the ball fall in an arc? They are both true, a different reality for each.
What does all this physics mean in our lives? That our life and everything that we think is reality is relative. For example: We read the story of Lehi who is instructed of God to get the brass plates. His sons try to get them but are rejected. Then while guided by the spirit Nephi comes across Laban (who owns the plates) passed out drunk in the street. The scriptures proceed to walk us through Nephi's perspective on the events that followed. Nephi is ultimately congratulated for his righteousness. However, from a different point of view, whose 'reality' is different from Nephi, say a bystander watching the SAME events could presume Nephi as a murderer for killing Laban, a thief for stealing his clothes and sword, a liar for impersonating him and deceiving his servant Zoram all to selfishly and illegally acquire another person's family heirloom (the brass plates). So which reality is correct? We only think that Nephi was righteous because we have the background and God's perspective of his actions. Without this insight what would you really think about what he did? If you saw someone else do the same things that Nephi did (kill a person, take his things, assume his identity, lie and steal from his home and then make any witnesses vow an oath of loyalty and force them to leave with them forever) would you not call the police? If caught, would you not testify at his trial against him? And, would you not esteem yourself as being more righteous than that murderer, liar and thief? Perspective is everything. But whose perspective is correct?
Perspective defines who we think we are and who we THINK others are. The problem is that our perspective of others is not THEIR perspective of themselves. Their realities are different than our realities. Their perspectives are not our perspectives. How can we then think to judge another? Or to push and insist that our perspective and reality is more correct than another's?
Perspective is what can make a person a saint or a villain, a traitor or revolutionist, a visionary or a lunatic.
Perspective is what makes a republican a republican, a democrat a democrat.
Perspective is what lends one to dispense mercy and another to dispense justice.
Perspective is what helps one sleep soundly at night while another dealing with the same trial has a sleepless night.
So which perception is right? Like the ball that drops from the train--they may all be right within the confines of their own reality--which reality may be vastly different than our own. There is a difference between different and sin. Sometimes in life we confuse the two.
Perspectives often changes over time as one's reality changes through time. Our basis of judging reality alters as deeper understanding of the varying angles of perspective illuminate our vision enabling a clearer or broader view of reality opens up to us. Villains are rewritten as saints, traitors are called founding fathers, and lunatics are herald as visionary geniuses.
Einstein has taught us that we can only judge ourselves by comparing ourselves to others, but how can we do this correctly when we do not have all the facts and perspectives to judge correctly? Are we good? Are we successful? Are we happy? Are we righteous? Each can be answered yes or no to varying degrees as we compare ourselves to others. From one moment to another we can feel good about ourselves, esteeming ourselves to be successful, happy and righteous when compared to one person and then in a following instant feel like we are a worthless, wretched and failed soul as compared to somebody that we perceive to be superior to ourselves. Nothing has changed, just our perception of our reality. What we do not see is God's reality, God's perspective and evaluation of us.
Through this life we have but our own perspectives, experiences and perceived reality. We must be humble enough to realize that we do not know everything. We do not always know the perspective and reality of others and how different they may be from our own. Paul once illuminated, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known (1 Corinthians 13:12). The day will come that we will know all truth, all perspectives, all realities. But that day is not today. How do we stand today? Do we offer mercy and consideration or do we rashly deliver judgement and justice?
We all come from different backgrounds, experiences, and expectations. We all have different perspectives and realities. God works through each of us to help us achieve our best selves. He molds and prepares us today to be ready for the trials of tomorrow. We may have trials and difficulties in our lives that others are not required to suffer. We also have blessings that others may not receive. I believe that our lives fit our exact eternal needs, whether to further perfect our own souls or the souls of those around us. That is why it is so damaging to judge others or to envy their lives, accomplishments or blessings. We all live in the reality of our own perspective that may drastically differ from the reality and perspective of others. Comparing ourselves to others only skews the divinity of our own life's path. How futile are we as limited humans to cast judgment on ourselves or others. Only God can fairly judge our life, the intentions of our actions, and the correctness of our course. While we are free to evaluate the correctness of our own lives and correct our own course through the inspiration of the holy ghost, we are entirely unprepared to evaluate and judge the life of another.
Until the day comes that all darkness is removed and we are allowed to be seen as we are seen and see others as they are seen by God let us attempt to be kinder, more forgiving, more openminded and accepting. May we see the beauty that others can offer us and the world and not just see our own preconcieved assumptions of prejudicial short comings and failures.
“Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.” (President Uchtdorf, CR, April 1, 2012).
