"You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life." ~Jiddu Krishnamurti

    In our modern age, nearly all of us have become specialists.  It isn't possible to do everything well, so we learn to do one thing, or a few things well, and let others take care of the rest.  This is an understandable, and probably even necessary, philosophy regarding our jobs, but not a wise philosophy regarding life.  
    It is understandable that people with limited finances can't travel much and experience too many things, but even people who can afford to, often don't.  They don't travel outside of a few well known spots.  They don't do things other than the same things they have been doing for years, with only a few slight variations.  This is sad because we really learn best from experience.  No matter how well someone describes to you the scent of a rose, you will never know what it is until you actually smell one yourself.  
    This is even more important when it come to religion and spiritual growth.  Many of us have been members of the same church all of our lives.  Many have never even visited another church and especially not a church, temple, or synagogue of a completely different faith.  This not only limits our understanding of people, it also limits our understanding of religion and spirituality and the common truths that lie at the core of all religions.  The same gift, just wrapped in different color wrapping paper and ribbons.