The Veil of Perception: Between What We See and What Is

We navigate the world through a lens shaped by social conditioning, a filter that often distorts reality. This conditioning erodes our natural human perception, which is inherently characterized by openness, innocence, and trust. It builds walls where there should be bridges, creating a gap between what we perceive and what truly exists.

The Erosion of Innocence

Human beings are born with a natural capacity for trust and openness. We see the world with a sense of wonder and possibility. However, this innate perception is gradually replaced by learned behaviors and defense mechanisms. Social conditioning teaches us to be wary, to protect ourselves, to see threats where there might be none.

The Fortress of Defenses

Think of psychological defenses as the building blocks of this distorted perception. These defenses, while sometimes necessary for short-term survival, ultimately create a fortress around our true selves, limiting our ability to connect authentically with others and the world around us. Projection, denial, rationalization – these and other defenses become ingrained habits, shaping our reality in ways we often don’t even recognize.

The Price of Protection

While these defenses might offer a sense of security, they come at a cost. They create a disconnect between our inner world and the outer world, leading to misinterpretations, misunderstandings, and ultimately, suffering. We see the world not as it is, but as our defenses allow us to see it.

Beyond the Walls

To bridge the gap between perception and reality, we must dismantle these defensive walls. This requires a conscious effort to challenge our ingrained beliefs and assumptions, to question the narratives we’ve been told about ourselves and the world. It requires a willingness to be vulnerable, to embrace the discomfort of uncertainty, and to rediscover the openness and trust that were once our natural state.

Reclaiming Reality

Just as Jesus suggested a return to a childlike state of being, from a scientific perspective, this dismantling of defenses and reclaiming of natural perception is essential for psychological well-being and a more accurate understanding of reality. It’s about shedding the layers of conditioning that obscure the truth, allowing us to see the world, and ourselves, with clarity and authenticity. It’s about moving from a consciousness dominated by fear and defense to one grounded in openness and connection.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

This task of returning to our senses, of bridging the gap between perception and reality, is incredibly challenging, and arguably impossible without divine assistance. Only the Holy Spirit can strike the delicate balance between being “shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). How do we know? Through personal experience. Our perception, our understanding of ourselves and the world, is a work in progress, a continuous journey of growth and revelation guided by a force beyond our individual capabilities.

FTC Harvest / February 2025