Ascertain the Facts First

Supposition is a substitution of truths and a thief of thoughts. This is a lesson I learned in the hard way. I have faced needless anxiety and fruitless wish by succumbing to supposition. When I ascertain the truth, my supposition banished in thin air. Facts clarify every supposition and saves from needless speculation.

It all began with a marriage proposal for a brother and sister. I was of the assumption that the brother in mind would definitely like the siter in mind too. The general supposition had been that the duo would make a perfect partner in marriage alliance until the myth was bursted by the needle of fact. To my surprise, the brother had an entirely different view, altogether different from what was generally assumed. He was not at all in favor of the sister we had in mind would match him. I got it all wrong, perhaps. But time will tell if my thoughts were truly of the Lord. If not, I accept my immaturity and would strive to learn better and faster. We now wait to settle this matter soon. My assumption was proven to be deficit of reality. I need a more mature discernment.

Another instance was a half-truth news I heard of a brother from a brother who seemed to have started another literature service in the country in addition to what has already been established. The first time I heard, I was in disbelief as I knew the brother concerned. In fact, I was asked to take action as I am responsible, officially, in the literature service in this country. Deep within me, I wish I could avoid such awkward circumstances to deal with a brother of my father's age and whose spiritual stature is far beyond my reach, as I reckon. I really hesitated to take any action.

I was reminded again and again by a brother to do something as I have the official position and responsibility to do so. I waited and waited until I decided to ascertain the fact first on the 10th of this month. 

As I called up a brother who knew the matter best, the myth was bursted again that the half-truth news was just a thing of the past. Some have circulated the rumor in a bid to defame the brother and demean his function. On ascertaining the fact, I was quite relieved. It was a salvation from falsely accusing a brother for a thing done in the past, not in the present. Yes, he did try something in the past, and that has not continued any longer. Otherwise, it would have been a challenge to face such a senior brother with the official responsibility assigned to me. Now that the fact was gotten, I am quite relieved. Ascertaining the fact saved me from needless speculation and futile imagination.

Another instance was when I received an intimation from income tax department related to my income tax return filing. Before even reading the mail, I had assumed that I need to go through tax harassment from the income tax department and that I need to get the help of a chartered accountant. I indeed wasted my thoughts in anxiety until I actually opened the mail and ascertain the fact that it was indeed an intimation of confirmation of my filing with no due. What a relief!

Yet another instance was when my neighbor sent me a message one night which put me in dilemma as I thought he was inviting me to attend his sister's wedding party which I would wish to avoid my all means for various reasons. In fact, my wife and I just visited and gifted a wedding gift the night before the wedding in lieu of attending the wedding meeting. But when I saw the message it turned out that he was just checking if water tank could be refilled as it ran out in the night. O what a needless supposition bringing me needless anxiety!

Thank God for this lesson! Now, I must not succumb again to a vain supposition and needless speculation. And I must not allow the enemy to corrupt my mind before ascertaining the facts.

What a lesson! Always ascertain fact first and never speculate.