Context

Details

Published on Sunday, September 23, 2012

By: Rev. Glenna Beauchamp
Rivers and Oak River United Churches

As I was driving out of town on my way to Brandon, I saw a snake slithering quickly across the highway. I automatically braked to avoid hitting it, then my brain registered an important fact. It was the middle of February!

Once I considered that information, I had to revise my understanding of what I had seen. Context is critically important.

Someone has said that before we draw conclusions about something we’ve seen or heard, we need to apply the ‘W5 Formula,” asking five questions: What happened? When did it happen? Who was involved? Where did it happen? Why did it happen?

Context is necessary to get to the truth, whether we’re reading the Bible or listening to a story when we’re out for coffee.