If our emphasis is on the outcome, the end result, the book, the song, the film, the poem, whatever it is, and we’re all producing ‘outcomes’ – expressing our individual opinion, we end up with a glut of perspectives. This is especially true within our tech-enabled capacity to publish anything, anywhere, for everyone (this text being a case-in-point). So, how do we see the wood for the trees when we are in an exponentially expanding forest?
 
Actually, I’m starting to think of that particular glut as ok – simply because our emphasis should not lean on what other people think of my expression (engaging book, formulaic song, tedious film, moving poem). In this case, the volume of material isn’t the immediate issue – comparison is. Similarly, the glut of material ‘out there’ ceases to be a problem when we remove any expectation or need to adopt other people’s perspectives as truth (conformity?). Ultimately, the emphasis should be on the outworking of my internal journey. The value of me capturing thoughts like this, writing them down and putting them out there, is more about an eternal accountability (in that I am a unique mirroring facet of an infinite God) and simply embracing a mechanism to pull the thoughts to the surface. The process or journey of articulation as words or melody or frames or stanzas, is the real value. Whether anybody reads it, likes it, agrees with it, criticises it, doesn't matter because the form is only of value in its capacity encourage the words out into the open. The form is a means to an end, and that end is consistently evolving, expanding and growing.

Don’t get me wrong, critique or referencing the thoughts and ideas of others is clearly a good thing, and a central part of being human. We need each other’s stories to help us make sense of the world, and offering a reflective analysis helps improve our work. However, if there is a reliance there – adopting the views of others, rather than their informing the context, or a bias to shoot down, rather than build up, we create and sustain a culture of reliance, tribalism and dualism.
 
The gospel is compelling me to move past individual interpretations or personal critique and to see the good in all. Journey over destination.