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IN THIS ISSUE: WHAT COLOR IS YOUR FILTER?
WISDOM: "It takes two to speak the truth---one to speak, and one to hear."
Henry David Thoreau
SOUL TRAVEL: NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL
WHAT COLOR IS YOUR FILTER?
"He lied", my six-year old grandson said indignantly.
"Maybe he thought he was telling the truth", I urged. "Most people don't lie, they just see things differently."
I am not sure he really understood my point, but I do know that the day he does, he will be a better friend, a better mate, a wiser and more forgiving man.
Truth is often a moving target. Many versions can be equally true depending on how it is filtered both by the listener and the teller. How aware is each of us of the filters through which we process our daily interactions? What filters color our vision, our understanding, our observations? Does one see dark and the other light, opportunity or hardship or are we processing from theory or experience, fear or curiosity, judgment or compassion? In a recent article in Newsweek about the government's presentation of the facts about Iraq, the commentator pointed out that what was presented as truth was impacted by theory. It was a filtered truth. A lie is intentional.
In the matter of relationships, this duality can have some rather severe consequences if there isn't some awareness of and respect for different perspectives. In my professional capacity as a divorce mediator, I have listened too many times to people give me their versions of the truth about a common event. There often is nothing in common between the two stories. The biggest lesson I have learned professionally is to respect a story as that person's truth and to try to be aware of my filters that can color what I hear, see and say. At times, I try to encourage someone to change his/her filter in order to get a different view. Changing the filter is often helpful to them, to me and may be to you. First, however, you have to know the color of your filter.
Then, of course, there is Clinton's definition of sex. Intentional lie or a filtered truth? It is the rose-colored filter that really trips us up on both sides - the telling and the hearing.
 
 
 
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NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL
The train stopped. Everyone piled out to get photos of a magnificent waterfall cascading off the mountain, filling the air with spray and a rainbow. As I stepped back into the train, a fellow passenger said. "Keep you camera out. Soon you will see a young woman in a red velvet dress appear and hear her song." "You are kidding me, right?" I said in disbelief. No sooner had I said this than a beautiful voice began to fill the air, accompanied only by the thundering of the falls. I was astounded to see a woman in a red velvet dress and long, black hair emerge from the ruin of a stone house beside the falls. I felt like I was inside a fairy tale. Some might call this corny but I am an incurable romantic and it all fit this perfect and gorgeous setting. No wonder Norway is the land of trolls.
This train trip was part of a popular tour called "Norway in a Nutshell". This portion of the trip runs from Myrdal to Flam. It is billed as "one of the most beautiful train trips in the world", and it is spectacular. The train descends very steeply 865 meters through fantastic scenery. Everything is vibrant green. The valleys are bordered by snow-capped peaks and laced
with waterfalls. Luckily, it was a sunny day.
I stayed overnight in the picturesque, small village of Flam, and boarded a boat the following morning for a trip through two of Norway's most outstanding fjords. We were surrounded by deep blue water, high mountains and waterfalls. Small farms dotted the landscape, some perched so high on the mountside that it would seem only a ladder would provide access.
This day I was not so lucky with the weather. I hoped the fog and rain might contribute to some interesting photos but, in general, they were disappointing. Regardless of the weather, it was a stunning trip. If I am ever in Norway again, it is worth repeating.
Oslo is a lovely harbor city - lots of flowers and sculptures, easy to find your way around in and most everyone speaks English. It is also very expensive. (It is now listed as the most expensive city in the world. That became very clear at the point I realized I was paying $5.50 for a glass of Coke.)
Oslo is the home of the Vigeland Sculpture garden in Frogner Park which I visited on a sunny Sunday. Broad expanses of lawns, several ponds and lots of trees host over 200 granite and bronze sculptures that depict various aspects of the human condition by artist Gustav Vigeland. The populace was out en masse, filling the lawns with romping children and picnickers, a perfect compliment to the sculptures. I found it an amazing and inspiring place. The immense task of bringing all of this together said a great deal for the city fathers.
Bygdoy, an island just about one-half hour ferry ride from the Oslo harbor, is the setting for several small museums and a replica of a village showing life in Norway in the early 20th century. Considering the size of the homes and a marina filled with impressive boats, Bygdoy is obviously a wealthy suburb of Oslo. Of the museums, my very favorite was seeing the original Kon Tiki. Imagine being a member of Thor Heyerdahl's crew and sailing on nothing more than an oversized raft from Peru to Polynesia (1947), relying mostly on the sea for food, having no amenities, and contending with all the uncertainties of destination and Mother Nature. I read the book years ago and had been fascinated by the adventure but there is nothing like seeing the real thing! The museum also had the Ra II that was the reed boat Thor sailed across the Atlantic in 1970. Thor was quite a guy!
Another small museum housed two wooden Viking ships. The ships on display had been used as VIP tombs and had been excavated from burial sites. Just as the Egyptians had filled the tombs of their nobility, so the Vikings filled their burial ships with everything one might need in the afterlife -- jewels, furniture, carriages, servants, food, etc. A surprise to me, these ships were HUGE! Digging a hole for one of these ships must have been a feat in itself.
A short train ride outside of Oslo took me to Holmenkollen, one of the largest man-made ski jumps in the world. Passing the token troll near the ticket counter, one takes an elevator part of the route and climbs 114 steps to the top. I certainly was glad I wasn't carrying skis. The view was worth the hike. The thought of flying down the long chute with just two boards on my feet and jumping put my heart in my mouth. In the distance, I noticed a very large statue of a troll perched on a hill. I couldn't pass that up, so I hiked across the road and up the hill to pay homage to the troll. (See photo) The presence of troll figures here and there certainly speaks to the whimsical side of the Norwegians, who are not usually thought of as whimsical. (Also note the photo of the statue of a woman in high heels and little else by Oslo's harbor.) Love it!
To be continued in next Museletter.
NOTICE: Dr. Marshall Rosenberg's workshop on "The Art of
Compassionate Communication" October 15-16. I promise you this
will be one of the best workshops you have ever attended! We are
very lucky to have Dr. Rosenberg in Phoenix. Call 602-230-4137 or go to
www.NVCAZ.com for more information. Or call me and I will send you
a flyer.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH: If you think before you speak, it may alter what you speak and think! Allison
HAVE A HAPPY DAY!
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WINGS Vol. II, No. 8, September, 2003
