Not so different, after all...

You're religious! You're atheist! You're LGBTQ! You're homophobic! Your skin is a different color! You're a raving liberal! You're a fascist conservative!!!!  THEM VS US! US VS THEM!!! They're different, so they've GOT to be wrong or bad or the root of all of society's problems!!!!  

This is what we've seen and heard all around us lately. Whenever something bad happens in the world, we are SO quick to look for things in which to place the blame. Finding the reasons behind things is different from placing blame. Don't get me wrong, reasons for bad or evil actions do NOT excuse them or entitle the perpetrators to exemption from the consequences of their choices. But reasons foster understanding. Blame fosters contention.

It's contention that caught my attention the last few weeks. And in pondering the events of the last few weeks, I've come to the conclusion that we bring a lot of this contention on ourselves. "What?!?!", you might say,  "Annette, what could you possibly mean???  We're not contentious people!!!!"  And I agree...to a point. I don't think we INTEND to foster or promote contention. I think we do it by picking each other apart and separating one another based on our differences. Poking at our differences fosters divisiveness and that is where we find contention. Now, before you get mad and close this post...please understand that I am not standing on a soap box as a paragon of perfection. I am as guilty of doing this as anyone else. 

However, lately I've been thinking that maybe - just maybe...looking for common ground might be a good place to start. If you drill things down to the bare-bone-basics, we can find commonality in ALMOST every situation and person. After all, we're all fellow passengers on this beautiful rock in space!

You might ask, "Ok, Annette, you make it sound so easy. How do we do that?". Well, I'll tell you! Mind you, it's not MY solution. It came from someone much-MUCH smarter than I. He said "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!" Basically, that's it. Look at, talk to, and treat your fellow travelers the way you'd like them to look at, talk to, and treat YOU! It doesn't matter if they reciprocate. You CAN'T control what choices other people make. But I guarantee that if enough of us start doing this, it will spread like a beautiful plague of love, peace, and good will.

Another kind, wise, loving man recently said in a "Time" article: 

"Each of us has inherent worth and dignity. I believe we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father. But no matter your religion or spirituality, recognizing the underlying truth beneath this belief that we all deserve dignity is liberating—it brings emotional, mental, and spiritual equilibrium—and the more you embrace it, the more your anxiety and fear about the future will decrease. Love your neighbor and treat them with compassion and respect. A century of experience has taught me this with certainty: anger never persuades, hostility never heals, and contention never leads to lasting solutions. Too much of today’s public discourse, especially online, fosters enmity instead of empathy. 

Imagine how different our world could be if more of us were peacemakers—building bridges of understanding rather than walls of prejudice—especially with those who may see the world differently than we do. I have seen bitter divisions soften when neighbors chose to listen to one another with respect rather than suspicion. Even small acts—like reaching out across lines of faith, culture, or politics—can open doors to healing. There is power in affording others the human dignity that all of God’s children deserve.  

This work begins at home. At a time when loneliness and isolation are rising around the world, families—though never perfect—remain one of life’s strongest sources of stability and meaning. My own experience has taught me that fidelity, forgiveness, and faithfulness within families yield deep, enduring peace. Strong families help us extend kindness outward, reinforcing communities and societies as well."

So, there it is. We can each be part of the solution. We can each start within our small spheres of influence - beginning right at home among those we should love the most. When differences arise - and they will - take a deep breath, count to ten, look for the good in those around you, and love one another. One drop of kindness, one moment of empathy and understanding, one loving thought, word or action at a time - You guys, we can DO this!!! We can change the world, we can be peacemakers, we CAN love one another!