In the Bible, there is a story about Potiphar’s wife, who did everything she could to seduce young Joseph. After several unsuccessful attempts, she finally grabbed his shirt as he fled from her advances. In a fit of shame and anger, she fabricated a story claiming that Joseph had tried to rape her. At this point, Potiphar’s wife appeared convincing, especially since she had Joseph’s shirt as evidence. She seemed truthful… until Joseph shared his side of the story.
Although Potiphar’s household never believed his version of events, his explanation clarified many matters, particularly how his shirt ended up in the hands of his master’s wife. It’s important not to rush to conclusions based on a one-sided story. For every narrative you encounter, there are always at least two perspectives. Since you may not always hear the other side, exercise caution in your conclusions. You might end up condemning an innocent person.
Even though the other half of the story might not be readily available, be careful not to rush to judgment. You could be unfairly condemning an innocent person. Like a coin, every story has two sides; you cannot assume what the other side looks like based on just one perspective. A conclusion should not be drawn until both sides have been considered. It’s no surprise that competent courts of justice always wait to hear both sides of a story before passing judgment. Even if someone is caught in the act of a crime, any accusation made against them is merely an allegation until they have had the opportunity to present their side of the story. Each of us should act like a court; we must avoid forming conclusions based solely on rumours and one-sided narratives.
In today’s world, there is a significant amount of misinformation presented as truth. In their pursuit of power and fame, many individuals disregard the well-being of others. They don’t hesitate to portray others as villains. In this age of social media, people can manipulate images to make them appear real, even when they are not, all with the calculated intention of undermining others to elevate themselves. Now more than ever, you need discernment! As humans, we often present narratives that make us look favorable in the eyes of others. Similar to Potiphar’s wife, people tend to share their side of the story in a way that paints others as evil, even when they are in the wrong. If we were to rely solely on one-sided stories, no one would ever be considered at fault.
People can be quite cunning. In politics, everyone wants to appear to be the best choice. In business, the goal is to reach the top. In religion, individuals strive to be everyone’s favourite. As a result, scandals often emerge. Propaganda takes hold, and falsehoods and slander become common. It requires a discerning heart to recognise a lying mouth and great insight to separate truth from lies. Don’t believe everything you hear. Some publications present satire as though it were factual, and some stories are crafted to make others look bad. Always read beyond the headlines. Verify your facts before forming opinions about others. Not everything you hear is true, and there is a danger in accepting a one-sided story.
We all should make a conscious effort to go beyond one-sided stories. In every aspect of our lives, we ought to be intentional about considering both sides of a story. Our lives will be lopsided if we keep making decisions based on half-truths and incomplete shards of evidence. When you hear something ill about another whom you know, make a conscious effort to know their version of the story. If you hear all manner of news about your spouse, don’t conclude yet. It’s dangerous to conclude on a one-sided story.
Approach the individuals involved. Ask them about their perspective and get to know their side of the story. While some may not be truthful, ultimately, your decision will be fair, as you will have considered both sides and identified which version is more credible. As a leader, when you receive complaints about your subordinates, exercise caution. Avoid launching an immediate attack; remember that you only have one side of a two-sided story. Make sure to listen to your subordinates as well, as things may not be as they were presented. There might be exaggerations involved. When you encounter negative information about certain individuals, dig deeper than just the surface. The story could be fabricated or influenced by propaganda.
Though such characters may have been bad in times past, be certain they did this, too. This time, it may just be a setup. Be discerning at all times when you come across any news item. A one-sided story is like a half-truth. It’s a half-lie! Life’s all about stories. We make friends and enemies out of what we hear. We become die-hard enemies or friends of others based on what we read or hear about them.
We ought to, thus, be discerning. What we hear about people may not be all there is to know. What we read about them may only be twisted to favour the teller of the story. Our new play, THE SAINT IN THE DEVIL’S SHOES, explores the danger of a one-sided story. The one-man musical play has a deep message for its audience to reflect on while listening to the other side of the story. Be discerning. Do not be gullible. Be careful not to fall prey to single-sided stories.
By: Kobina Ansah
