Evidence

There is a recurring premise that comes in and out of favor.  At the heart of the hypothesis is a simple assumption; facts are the heart of understanding.  I do not believe that this premise is true.  Our behavior suggests that facts are not enough.  In reality, facts fall into a second level of importance.  It takes more than facts.  It takes facts plus awareness, understanding, and action. 
Awareness is critical because everyone is overwhelmed by life and the events swirling in our lives.  Candidly, there is a lot going on and most of the time we are caught in the headlights of events that may not be critical to our lives.  I find myself trapped by acts of evil, cries of anguish, pain, and despair, and sensational images.  Lost to my mind are ordinary moments of beauty, simple cries for help, and routine opportunities to delivery mercy and compassion. 
Understanding is often a gift that comes to us late in life.  We appreciate the thoughtfulness of others more when we realize how fleeting life is.  We treasure an embrace because we know that there is a limited number remaining in our lives.  We want to remember because we know how fragile our journey's story is in our memories.
When one acts on awareness and understanding, it frequently comes to others are wisdom.  Without action, the heart of the value of life, experience, and knowledge remains unused.  In time, our hearts are vessels carrying priceless treasures that our lack of action has locked away from even our imaginations. 
Life is about the steps we take in the moment we have.  When  “everybody who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him walking around and woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among them,” (Acts 9.35) life was better for the evidence.  Our stories today can be better if we exercise wisdom.  The evidence is found in the ordinary.  Our willingness to be awareness, take time to understand, and ultimately put learning and insight into action will make a difference.  It will be amazing.