Every story has two stories

In the Bible, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce young Joseph. After many failed attempts, she grabbed his shirt as he fled.

Out of shame, she claimed Joseph wanted to rape her. At first, her story seemed believable. She had Joseph's shirt as evidence.

However, when Joseph shared his side, things changed. Potiphar’s household did not believe him at first. His explanation clarified how his shirt ended up with Potiphar's wife.

Never rush to judgment based on one-sided stories. Every story has two sides. You might be condemning an innocent person without knowing the full truth.

Even if you don’t hear both sides, avoid quick judgments. You could be unfairly accusing someone who is innocent. Like a coin, every story has two perspectives.

You cannot conclude until you see both sides of the situation. Courts wait for both sides before making a decision. Even if someone appears guilty, they deserve a chance to explain themselves.

We should act like courts and not jump to conclusions based on rumors or incomplete information. Today, many falsehoods are presented as truth in our world.

People often manipulate stories for power and fame. In this social media age, images can be edited to mislead others.

Discernment is crucial now more than ever! We all tend to present ourselves in a favorable light. Like Potiphar’s wife, people may twist their narratives to make others look bad.

If we only believed one-sided stories, no one would ever be wrong! People can be cunning in politics and business; everyone wants to appear superior.

In religion too, individuals strive for popularity at any cost. Scandals and propaganda often arise from these desires.

It takes discernment to identify lies and separate truth from deception. Be cautious about what you believe; some publications may not be genuine news.

Read beyond headlines and verify facts before forming opinions about others. Not everything you hear is true; single-sided stories can lead to dangerous conclusions.

We must actively seek out both sides of every story we encounter in life. Making decisions based on half-truths can lead us astray.

When hearing negative things about someone you know, seek their perspective too. If rumors circulate about your spouse, don’t jump to conclusions right away.

Approach them and ask for their side of the story instead of assuming guilt. While some may lie, weighing both perspectives will help you make fair decisions.

As a leader hearing complaints about subordinates, exercise caution before acting on them immediately. Listen to their side; it might differ from what was presented initially.

When reading negative news about individuals, dig deeper into the context behind it all—it could be fabricated or exaggerated propaganda aimed at discrediting them unjustly.

Life revolves around stories that shape our relationships with others—friends or enemies alike are often determined by what we hear or read about them.

Thus, we must remain discerning because what we learn may only reflect one viewpoint tailored by the storyteller's bias.

Our new play titled "THE SAINT IN THE DEVIL’S SHOES" highlights the risks associated with believing one-sided narratives.

This musical aims to encourage audiences to consider multiple perspectives before forming opinions.

Be discerning and avoid being easily misled by single-sided tales.

The writer is a playwright and Chief Scribe of Scribe Communications in Accra (www.scribecommltd.com). His new play will premiere at the National Theatre on April 18th and 19th in 2025.

For inquiries regarding the play, please call 0546098082.