Randy Travis

Back in 1986, Randy Travis sang about a fellow who has just met an exciting woman. She has his complete attention, has him almost spellbound. He considers the possibility of spending the night with her. Then he sings, “On one hand I count the reasons I could stay with you . . . all night long . . . and on that hand I see no reason why it’s wrong.” That is one way for him to look at the situation.

But the refrain reveals the rest of the picture, as he sings, “But on the other hand there’s a golden band to remind me of someone who would not understand.” He has been tempted to forsake his marriage, and might have done so if he just looked at things from the most obvious point of view, the way he felt. He sings about a strong desire to stay, but the logic of marital love and commitment realizes that, “the reason I must go is on the other hand.”

Therein lies one of life’s crucial lessons. On one hand--every day, throughout the day--we see what we believe to be right and what feels right at the time. On the other hand there is always more to be considered, another side. On one hand we are ready to act; on the other hand it is possible that we might be wrong.

The truth is that no single way of seeing anything is ever the complete picture. There is always more. Mortimer Adler made the strange claim that the greatest contribution Greek civilization ever made to our culture is the idea of men/de, two little particles in the Greek language.

These little particles, men and de, are commonly translated into English as on one hand/on the other hand. When we think of Greek culture, sculpture, philosophy, and drama, we certainly might wonder what the man was thinking to make such an audacious claim. On the other hand. . . .