Misunderstanding About Jazz!
David M. Wasmundt
Some years ago, I let my son Tim pick out a lab puppy from a large litter of cute pups looking for a home. When he brought her home, I asked what he named her and he replied, "Jazzman." I was immediately concerned about why he would choose a politically incorrect name like Jazzman for a female dog, but I was determined not to object. I thought about suggesting that he might want to change her name from Jazzman to Jazzwoman, Jazzgirl, or maybe a neutral name like Jazzdog. But I said nothing, thinking that his choice perhaps stemmed from his interest in jazz music. After all, I thought, the dog won’t know the difference and besides, I was convinced that the name Jazzman was probably just as good for a female dog as if he had named her "Louie Armstrong," "Harry Connick,
Jr.," or "Dr. John." And besides, I figured if necessary, we could
always take her to a doggy shrink in the future if she developed
some kind of identity crisis.
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Jasmine?
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Then later, as I was looking through the puppy records that Tim had brought back from the vet, I discovered a small mistake in my assessment of the situation. Written on the file for "Important papers for my puppy" was the name Jasmine!
Things are not always as they appear. Misunderstandings can develop so easily because of our humanness. We need to be careful to know the facts before we make harsh judgments. The apostle Peter declared that pride, presumptuousness, and a quickness to speak evil of people and things that are not understood would characterize an apostate church. (2 Pet. 2:10-12)
Today’s present "tabloid mentality" that automatically prejudges people to be malicious, nefarious, or evil, must be repudiated by those who walk under God’s banner of love. In contrast, love thinks no evil without the facts and even when evil is confirmed in people, love does not rejoice in it, but rather rejoices only when the truth sets these prisoners free. (1 Cor. 13)
Bottom line truth: As easily as I mistook the name Jasmine for Jazzman, it is easy to misunderstand people’s statements and even their actions. Remember what Anatole Franie, a French novelist, once said, "It is better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot." And that’s no jazz.
The Real Jasmine!
Copyright © 2008
David M. Wasmundt - WOW Publications. All rights reserved.
