I have come to learn that what seems to be obvious to me may not be obvious to others.  And no doubt the reverse is true as well.  You may well see things clearly about me that I can't see at all, or is not on my radar.  I am not talking about critical spirits, judgments and such, but the good things that we could benefit from if it were as obvious to us as it is to others.  Or, as obvious to you as it is to me. 

This reality is an violent double edge sword or a wonderful tool for building.  If we are not careful we can cut and be cut by it, but if we relate to the obvious we know well, it can be used to add some significant value to the lives of others, and others can add some significant value to ours.   The reality is this:  we are different by design.  What we do with this difference in knowing the obvious, and how we relate to the different obvious in another's life can be a source of security or spark defense mechanisms in us that keep us from becoming better people and better at what we do.  

I have always admired people that freely ask questions about what they don't know or aren't good at.  They seek out others for their understanding the obvious that is not obvious to them.  I have had to learn to do this.  When I was young, I was trying to prove I was right and knew everything.  What folly.  I knew very little of what I needed to know, and had a hard time opening myself up to the insights of others.  I was easily threatened by their perspectives, even though I could have had the value of them added to my life.  So, after many years, I think I am getting better at bringing others around me that can see the obvious about me and what I do when I can't see it, and listen carefully to what they are saying, so that I can have that value added to my life.  

Interestingly enough, the more I open myself up to others, to listen and carefully weigh out what others are saying to me, the more I find others are responding to me in the same manner.  This is God's way of helping us overcome our defensive isolation.  We need one anthers godly perspectives.  Let me encourage all of us to open up to the obvious.

Proverbs 27:17  As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.