It's just my junk

The assumed

I am continually consumed and battle with the idea of assumed. For example:

• since I am a pastor, people assume I know God better than others
• since I am a youth worker, people assume I know everything about parenting teenagers.
• since I am a white male, people assume I don’t struggle with stereotypes, being seen as a productive person in society etc..
• since I am a public figure, people assume I am always enjoy being in the spot light.
• since I am pastor, people assume I work the same schedule as they do.
• since I am a leader, people assume I always know what is going on.
• since I am a twin, people assume I feel everything my twin does.

I am sure this could go on and on and on… and you have your own set of assumes… some of the assumptions above maybe close to accurate but most of them are not even close to being truth.

So, what can I do about it? What can you do about your assumption list?

I know the answer is not an easy one but simply put, we can help educate people to some truths and not assume they know.  Here we go:

• when some one suggests I know God more, I can help them realize we all struggle and those in the bible did too.
• when some suggests I know it all or I am a great parent, I can help them realize I struggle with parenting too. It is a serious deal.
• when someone suggests only people of different color or etc. struggle with stereotypes, I can help them realize we all struggle with it.. try being a white, balding youth minister who is a twin…..
• when someone assumes I am working on Monday… I can help them realize it is my off day, a day not spent working… also I can not take phone calls and on my message say hey it is Monday and I am off today.. I will call you back tomorrow.

I often assume… much like we all do… we assume a lot about others and sometimes organizations without taking them time to learn and better understand. I admit it takes time to learn and understand, maybe that is the issue, it requires time.

I am feeling challenged in my life to assume less and look to learn more. How about you?