I see (translation: I don't see)

Recently a senior circuit judge came in for some criticism when he interrupted a fraud trial in St. Albans to ask a question.

What, he asked, is a sofa-bed? When a witness tried to explain, the Judge asked for clarification: ‘how can a bed be turned into a sofa?’ He listened, it seems, attentively having earlier being similarly fazed by the word ‘futon’. It would appear that modern bedsit furniture was not His Honour’s strong point.

In praising the judge’s ‘fearlessness and lack of self-preserving subterfuge’ Libby Purves maintained that ‘no human quality is more intelligent, honest and useful than willingness to ask when you don’t know. We should be less afraid of it’.

I reckon she has a point, after all, ‘perfect love expels all fear’ [1 John 4:18].

In our quest to model an alternative lifestyle we are undoubtedly better served by honest doubters and hard questions. Unquestioning compliance with the cultural status quo that is birthed in ignorance is short-sighted and futile. While tacit non-compliance is no less cancerous in it’s enervating effectiveness. Nodding and pretending to know or agree when you don’t is, as Purves writes, 'a modern curse'.

Contrary to popular opinion there’s no disgrace in asking – there’s no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid answers and those who don’t ask.

I pray for the courage to say what I see and say when I don’t.