“Andy, I will video you from the shower,” I told my son.

“Mom, do you know how weird that sounds?”  He answered.  He was right.  I was referring to an upcoming baby shower.  He couldn’t have known that. Miscommunication can easily become problem.

Is there a chance…

• He didn’t mean to say what you think you heard?
• She just might be innocent?
• He was only kidding?

The chance for misinterpretation is greater now than ever, thanks to social media and a psychological phenomenon known as “the transparency illusion”—the belief that what we intend is crystal clear to others, no matter how poorly we communicate our thoughts.  “Why is she offended?  It’s obvious I was just messing around.  I even put LOL at the end of my text.” Or… “I bared my soul, hoping he would apologize, but he told me that I was being dramatic.” Or… “I expected her to meet me for dinner, but later she used the excuse that she thought I was just messing around.  How could it be any plainer?”

And speaking of misinterpretation, how about those online dating complaints?

• Instead of 5’11” as he advertised, not even his three-inch orthotics made him close to her 5’7” height.
• The picture she used was photo-shopped so drastically, the only thing even remotely resembling her were the earrings she wore.
• “Respectful” included everyone except, apparently, this date.

Sometimes, however, social media is not to blame for misinterpretations.  In Mazatlán, our friends “Bill and Colleen” were asked by “Harry and Marge” if they (H&M) could move in with them for a few days because they (H&M) had an opportunity to rent their condominium and make a lot of money. Nervy, yes, but Bill and Colleen are kind souls and thought a few days couldn’t hurt. It turned out that “a few days” meant a month to the moochers who quickly took over their new abode without offering to help with cleaning or rent that B&C were paying for their unit.  When enough was enough, Harry and Marge were asked to leave (which they did only after bad-mouthing the generous couple and never speaking to them again.)

We all have had experiences dealing with misunderstanding, but I’m not sure there is any book more misconstrued than the Bible. These are a few untruths I have heard:

• God never could send someone to Hell. (Side note: He doesn’t.  We make that choice.)
• Jesus commands that we poke our eyes out if we lust.
• There are many ways to Heaven. Jesus doesn’t mean it when he says that he is the only way.
• All of the authors of the New Testament got together to write their stories to cut down on discrepancies.
• Paul hated women. That’s why he told them to be quiet in church.

Let’s face it.  Communication risks misunderstanding.  If we took the time to ask for clarity instead of conjuring up what we think is meant, if we researched just a little deeper, if we did not succumb to the transparency illusion, we might have a chance of being on the same page as the other person.  Then again, if we don’t do those things, we might not even be in the same book.