All it takes is one small whirl through the posts and pages of social media to sense the levels of varied passion and perspective. One thing is most certainly true: we have a lot of opinions. We have a lot of passion. And our levels of passion regarding various opinion are different than one another.
It’s actually fascinating. We can learn so much from varied opinion and perspective… if we are willing.
One unquestionable, seemingly significant obstacle — and I get it because I’ve felt and believed it deeply at various times — is that it’s incredibly difficult to learn from varied opinion if we have no respect for the holder of that opinion. If we don’t esteem another, we will struggle learning anything from them. We may even, somewhere in the back of our minds, actually deem the other as unworthy to listen to.
That’s hard. Let’s continue with our straight talk for a while…
- Some of us have no respect for a person who will vote for Donald Trump.
- Some of us have no respect for a person who will vote for Hillary Clinton.
- Some of us have no respect for a person who won’t vote for either of the two, suggesting they are throwing their vote away.
- Some of us have no respect for a person who kneels during the National Anthem.
- Some of us have no respect for a person who’s upset at those who refuse to stand.
- Some of us have no respect for a person who supports partial birth abortion.
- Some of us have no respect for a person who supports a pro-life position, even in cases of incest or rape.
- Some of us have no respect for any perceived, pro-choice/pro-life position.
- Some of us have no respect for those who want to increase entitlements, arguably helping the hurting.
- Some of us have no respect for those who want to tighten spending, believing continued deficit spending will only drive the eventual downfall of this country.
Some of us, still, have no respect for the Cubbies. Ouch.
Let me not cast any judgment upon any of the above. There are times I, too, have admittedly struggled with various opposing positions. Because I have struggled with a position different than mine, I have struggled with another who would come to such an opposing conclusion. They see circumstances differently than me.
But let me offer something that’s a little bit hard for me. It’s also something I know to be true…
This electoral season, I have met good persons who hail from each of the above.
Allow me to restate… I have met persons I deeply admire and respect, who hold each of the above 10 stances. While I, too, certainly have well-crafted opinions — and I have opinions that differ than many of those above — my empathy and compassion for the different has grown me incredibly.
It’s allowed me to focus on someone other than self.
It’s kept me (mostly — touché) humble.
It’s made me recognize that I don’t have all things all figured out.
And along with my guiding, empowering, authentic faith, it’s given me peace.
Years ago, I could not stand the Chicago Cubs. I’m sorry; I mean no offense. I’m just being honest. My friends who are Cubs’ fans — including several actually within my family — would go on and on about this woeful team from the north side of Chicago, and I could care less. I would not listen well. I didn’t like those Cubs. I did not like them in a box; I did not like them with a fox. I did not like them, Sam I Am, even if their infield was anchored by significant Law and Grace. But a funny thing happened, when I was willing to listen…
I’m still not really a Cubs fan. The Cincinnati Reds will always be dearest to my heart; the two compete fiercely against one another. But I see my friends and family, cheering this talented team on. And I get it. They have valid reasons to cheer. So I sit back, silently, watching the games. My team isn’t there; my team isn’t winning. But I can see why they like their team; and I can see, yes, why they don’t prefer mine. It’s not how I think, but I am intentionally taking the effort and stillness to understand.
Funny… when they cheer, I cheer, too. But it starts with a commitment to listen to those who feel differently than me.
Respectfully…
AR
Amen. I, too, have many opinions / some friends and family agree with me / some don’t. I continue to love them all / realizing our differences make us all stronger when we stop to listen with respect.
I hear people pounce on one side or the other of “Black Lives Matter” and “Support our police”. I try to imagine how I would feel (regardless of my skin color) if it was my un-armed loved one (again regardless of color) who was killed or if my loved one were on police patrol in dangerous situations. It gets lost on both sides that those who either make mistakes or are guilty are a small percentage of those being miscast as the bad guys on both sides of this issue. We have to learn to listen to each other – really listen – and respect and care for each other.
And yes, I am also a lifelong Reds fan, but knowing how bad we all feel, having not been to the World Series since 1990, I feel the Cubs fans’ long-suffering pain. I have eagerly been rooting for Chicago (until next year when division play begins again. And – hey! At least it’s not the Cardinals in the play-offs this year.) I did have a hard time rooting against Clayton Kershaw because he is such a great guy (and Christian). He had a remarkable playoff anyway. Saw a cute sign: “Curse-shaw will end tonight”. And the curse was indeed lifted. GO CUBBIES!!!
Respectfully and in loving care, RMF