Seeing is not Believing

Let the sky fall, when it crumbles, we will stand tall, and face it all together…. These words from Adele’s song are not famous just for their musical beauty but for the message they carry. The singer seems to invite the sky to fall, accepting whatever chaos it brings, as if to say, “Let whatever is bound to happen, happen. Let’s face it with strength.” The metaphorical sky in our lives—our fears, uncertainties and doubts—can often seem like they are on the verge of crumbling. Yet, we stand firm to resist the fall under the weight of our misperceptions and misconceptions.

This idea of the sky crumbling around us feels especially relevant today, in a world where we are often quick to jump to conclusions about what we see, hear and feel. Lately, in the outskirts of Srinagar, the people were faced with an intriguing spectacle. One evening, strange and unusual lights appeared in the sky, glowing bright against the dark horizon. As expected, people began capturing the scene on their phones and sharing it online. In no time, social media was afire with ‘theories and interpretations’.

Some swore it was an alien spacecraft, pointing to the unusual patterns the lights were making. Others claimed it was a UFO, perhaps scouting the area before making contact. There were those who speculated it was a falling satellite, hurtling towards Earth; and some even assumed that it could be something supernatural, given the lights spotted near Hazratbal, a place of spiritual significance.

But the reality, as it turned out, was far less dramatic. The lights that had captured the imagination of many were nothing more than high-powered laser beams projected from a lavish wedding ceremony nearby! What seemed extraordinary was, in actuality, just an illusion—an effect of modern technology combined with a human tendency to believe our eyes without questioning them.

This incident serves as a reminder that seeing is not always believing. In our fast-paced, information-saturated world, we often fall into the trap of believing everything we see or hear without validating it. But just as those lights in the sky turned out to be far from unearthly, many things we encounter in life require deeper scrutiny and thoughtful check before we accept them as ‘truth’. What seems apparently real can often be a cleverly crafted illusion, a sly sham, shaped by our credulity, biases, expectations or even the stories others tell us.

The same principle applies to everyday life. We see things. We hear stories. We watch events unfold. But how often do we pause to question or critically assess what we are witnessing? It’s human nature to trust. To trust our senses. To believe what we see. But history, science and personal experiences have repeatedly proven what appears true at a glance is often deceptive. Like the proverbial iceberg, most of the truth—usually ugly—lies beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered.

Consider how easily rumors spread, how misinformation takes root or how we make snap judgments about people based on a brief encounter. In today’s digital age, where pictures, videos and narratives can be spun to suit particular agendas, the importance of critical thinking can’t be undervalued. Before we believe something entirely—whether it’s a piece of news, a personal story or even our own observations—it’s crucial to take a moment to reflect, question and analyze.

The same can be said for the decisions we make and the beliefs we hold about the world. It’s easy to let foremost impressions guide our actions, but life has a way of revealing deeper truths over time. Just as the lights in the sky were not what they seemed, many things in life are far more complex than they initially appear. We must learn to peel back the layers and seek the truth under the external. Rather than relying solely on what we see at face value.

Adele’s words, let the sky fall, take on new meaning. Let the illusions crumble, let the false beliefs shatter. And in that collapse, let’s explore the vigor to stand tall. In a world filled with disruptions and deceptions, where it’s easy to believe without questioning, we should use our ability to think critically, to seek truth beyond appearances while facing the complexities of life with grit.

And perhaps, in the process, we will also discover something insightful: that truth, once uncovered, is far more powerful than any illusion. And far more unfailing is the sanity which accepts this truth.