Julie Wood states in the text that “perception is an active process of creating meaning by selecting, organizing, and interpreting people, objects, events, situations, and activities.” ( Wood, 80,81) The first thing I noticed about “Brother” Thomas was his style of dress. He is an older gentleman, late 50s, so his choice of all black clothing is not a style st

The lessons to be learned in this situation are found in the influences on perception. My incorrect perception could have stemmed from the differences in age and culture. My view of Ms. Thomas’ shoes and Brother Thomas’ black clothes definitely affected the way I perceived their personalities. Our difference in age has an affect on what styles we consider appropriate. My ministry style is much different than Brother Thomas’ due to the church culture in which I grew up. I think since Brother Thomas preached in a way I found offensive, my standpoint also aided in my misperception of Mrs. Thomas.

I was seated next to Mrs. Thomas at a training session for volunteers at Marion Juvenile Correctional Facility. She was dressed in a matronly, formless dress, and cumbrous, black “old-lady” shoes. I immediately selected, organized, and interpreted this appearance to mean she was the same Bible thumping, damnation preaching type that I perceived her husband to be. I was wrong. She spoke kindly to the youth, affirming them and reaching out to them in love and caring much the same way I do. She even offered her home to one youth that was soon to be released but could not go back to his own home since it had an unfit atmosphere. Somewhere in my process of perception, I goofed.

As I selected and organized the information about “Brother” Thomas and Mrs. Thomas, I began an interpretation of the informati

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