It's important to hear multiple perspectives about complex situations -- before, during, and also after arriving at opinions or conclusions.

In America, far too often I hear people expressing strong but ill-informed opinions, which usually seem to be based on subjective sources of information (or misinformation) in which they place too much trust, and without having actually considered alternative perspectives.

Afghanistan is one example, there are widely divergent views and reasons given for why we should continue the war there, bring our troops home, send more troops, continue or change our strategy in the region. Probably the one area of agreement is we're not winning or accomplishing any longterm objectives yet in Afghanistan.

One of my all-time favorite photographers is Steve McCurry, who has started blogging. Steve is the guy who famously photographed the Afghan girl decades ago for the National Geographic cover.

On Steve McCurry's blog, he offers some thoughts about Afghanistan, painting in some background and history about the people, the culture, and the dilemma we face about what to do with the war, and whether we are honestly considering the needs and perspectives of the Afghan people.

I think if our leaders will listen to more voices like this, not just opinions and partisan conclusions but voices of reason and experience, we would find wisdom to make difficult decisions. Let's turn our ears to wisdom. It's something we need to watch for, listen for, search for. There's no other way.

If you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
- Proverbs 2:1-5