Do you remember the ancient Hindu story about the six blind men who were brought to "see" an elephant?

"It's very like a wall," said the first man as he touched the side of the elephant. "It's very like a spear," said the second man as he stroked the elephant's tusk. And the third man, taking the elephant's squirming trunk in hand, said, "It's very like a snake!"

"Nonsense!" the fourth man shouted. Stretching his arms about one of the legs, he concluded, "This wondrous beast is very like a tree!" The fifth man, touching the elephant's ear, cried, "Even the blindest can tell this animal is very like a fan." And the sixth, grabbing the tail assured his friends that "the elephant is really like a rope!"

How can we gain a valuable lesson from this ancient story today? We must try to "see" the "whole elephant" before we reach a final conclusion on any matter. This is especially true of Biblical subjects. We need to consider all the Bible has to say on any matter. I am afraid that too many, even Christians, have their minds made up and do not want to be confused with the facts.

"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him" (Proverbs 18:13).

- Knollwood Reminders, 7/16/72