Editorial October 23, 1995 Issue

What careful observation brings to our lives

Russ Gerber

There is hardly an area of life today where we don't find observers—watchers of politics, of the economy, of social trends, of the entertainment industry. These people, and others, tell us what they see and what they think through their newspaper columns, newsletters, and talk shows.

It's natural for us to look to such observers for a perspective or depth of knowledge that we might not have ourselves. It's a way of expanding our own view. I had a very interesting conversation recently with a woman who helps legislators in her state by carefully watching and analyzing proposed legislation. I was very appreciative that she gave me a view of a part of her world—the legislative process and experience in her state—that I didn't have.

During our conversation this woman also mentioned a severe physical pain she had suddenly experienced on one occasion. The doctors who examined her at the time said they could find no physiological reason for the trouble. They told her all about the known causes of that particular difficulty, but said that none of them were evident in their examination. She then said to me that she was certain what was to blame. Examining what she had been thinking days and weeks prior to the trouble, she recalled how deeply she had been resenting someone. She was convinced that the cause of the physical difficulty was mental, in this case hatred.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

What careful observation brings to our lives

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access