Understanding implies abilities and disposition with respect to an object of knowledge. It is the power and the driving force of knowing; the getting to know. To understand something is to have conceptualized it to a given measure. Understanding is the product of diligent search, the uncompromised knowhow pertaining things and people around us.
Today, people are classified based on their knowledge about things of importance. Things of importance in that, people most often have knowledge, idea and understanding on things which are irrelevant and immaterial to things and people around them. Their community benefits nothing from their contributions but rather their own understanding poses threat to the community.
Right from inception of the world (heaven and earth), understanding had been a key factor in creation and in making. The understanding between God the father, son and Holy Spirit. When man was created, it was also through this same understanding. And God said in Genesis 1:26 let us (i.e. Father, Son and Holy Spirit) make man in our image, after our likeness, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. According to that bible verse, there existed a mutual understanding between God in three persons. One cannot create, make or produce something with whom he lacks understanding about or with whom a mutual relationship of understanding exists not.
Also, through the lack of this same understanding, tribulations, sin and all sort of negativities poisoned the world. It was the absence of this understanding that created a bridge between God and one of His then angel Lucifer. This can be extracted from Revelations 12: 7-12. The betrayer of understanding between God and His then pompous angel Lucifer led a utopia earth to absurdities and sin. All this started right from the very moment Lucifer was casted down to the earth. He became a trouble and threat to every existence.
For everything in existence, there is an equal pulling force holding them together. And that force is understanding. Take for instance, the trees and grasses in the forest, there exist a mutual understanding between the tree and the soil. This is why the soil is supplying the tree with the needed nutrients to grow and produce fruits. The day this understanding is shattered, the tree dies because the soil will tend to hold back its nutrient. So is applicable to life. When a man wallows in principles outside God’s principle he ceases to be a tree planted by the river side and as such that understanding being broken, the person suffers the consequences of eternal condemnation.
Now, I am beginning to understand why Socrate in his wisdom said KNOW THYSELF. The only true wisdom after knowing God is in knowing who you are. Having indebt knowledge of yourself. You are who you are today because of your knowledge and understanding of self. Greatest of men are those who had a better understanding of themselves. I believe no one can make you inferior because you know yourself better than anyone else.
Life is in stages. The stage of life begins with a foundation of which, without it, life becomes miserable and meaningless. This foundation is 'understanding of self'. It is the level of understanding you have about yourself that determines how solid your foundation tends to be. There is nothing on this planet earth worth getting that does not have the foundation, understanding. The success we so desire and the goals we aim at begins with understanding of self; where you are coming from, where you are at present and where your destination is. There is no such ignorance as deadly as not knowing yourself. It is more poisonous than a scorpion’s bite and more deadly than a cancerous cell.
To find yourself, think for yourself said Socrate. Knowing your bearing in life as to the better you, begins with a simple giant step of thought. This thought and thinking process creates a forum for you to understand yourself. Understanding of oneself is a product of thinking for oneself. You cannot be better than the understanding you have about yourself. Many of life challenges and tribulations arise most often due to our daily routine in not knowing ourselves.
Lack of understanding is the ulcer of a relationship. Amos 3:3 says: can two work together except they agree. A relationship cannot blossom where there is no understanding between the parties involved. Its then becomes synonymous with the case of beating a dead horse. For it takes you nowhere. It also builds a relationship; it brings out the beauty of love and despises hatred. Romeo and Juliet did just not die for love but were strucked by the death of best understanding; being well informed that living without each other is as good as death. Sequel to that, it is obvious that love begins with discernible self; self as an intimation aid for a better relationship. Hence, in marriages were there is no clear cut understanding between the couples, most often ends up a fiasco. Show me a perfect relationship and I will show you a relationship where perfect understanding exists. It is as important as oxygen is to man. It is axiomatic that from the deepest understanding comes the deepest of love.
Understanding is germane in all walks of life. It cannot be done without except such a person wants to embark on voyage of disharmony or higgledy piggledy. Take for instance, a psychiatrist understands another person’s anxieties if he knows that person’s anxieties, their causes, and can give useful advice on how to cope with the anxiety. For such a psychiatrist to give an advice to someone on how to manage any mood, he must first understand the person. Lack of this understanding might lead him/her to proffer a false advice to the person which may be detrimental to the person in question. One understands reasoning, an argument or a language if he can consciously reproduce the information content conveyed in the message. You don’t expect a French man to speak with a Nigerian without a middle person, the translator. The translator must be a person who understands both languages and should be able to bridge the communication gap between the different country men.
Getting to know brings peace but its absence brings war, crisis and conflict. Argument can be likened to lack of mutual dealings resulting from different belief. Right from the days of the bible, disagreement had been due to berated savvy. It was it that prompted the fight between the philistine mighty giant, Goliath and the great David. Also in the case of Saul and David, the Egyptians and the Jews, to mention but a few. Misunderstanding if not tamed at the early stage might lead to settlement by swords and machete. War is not the opposite of peace, but rather the absence of understanding. Where there is understanding, there you find peace, love, joy and happiness. In all things we desire, in unity and earnestly work towards it in apprehension, we can achieve.
This uncompromised ability cannot be exterminated where success exist or seems to exist. Its establishing power of success comes from the knowledge of the principles of success. Napoleon Hill once said, “No man has a chance to enjoy permanent success until he begins to look in a mirror for the real cause of his mistakes”. In the words of Hill, to enjoy long lasting and fulfilling success you must understand and have a lucid view into what is the real cause of your mistakes. Just as success is a process, so is understanding. It is a process mapped with action and optimism. You too can hit the success line if only you would understand why that route didn’t lead to your destination. Will Rogers elaborated it when he said that “if you want to be successful, it’s just simple: know what you are doing, love what you are doing and believe in what you are doing” Rogers simply talks about understanding as the foundation and rudiments of success. Champions, professionals, experts, genius and intellects are nobody but men who have found nothing more interesting than understanding.
Lastly, whosoever you want to become in life, whatever height you want to attain, the kind of life you want to live are all embedded in your understanding of life. Tune your perception in knowing yourself, environment and laws of nature. I tell you only death can stop your star on this planet earth because it’s already certain that the star must shine beyond this earth which is our home; the saint utopia, heaven.
ACHA HARRISON
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