{"id":3183,"date":"2014-05-08T06:19:09","date_gmt":"2014-05-08T10:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=3183"},"modified":"2014-05-08T06:42:45","modified_gmt":"2014-05-08T10:42:45","slug":"respected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=3183","title":{"rendered":"respected"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"huddleCLR\"<\/a>This week I\u2019ve wondered if we have a harder time being respectful than we think we do.\u00a0 It seems if just the right issue or experience arises, we are far too willing to sacrifice respect in the name of passion, emotion, or justice… far too willing.<\/i>\u00a0 In fact, my growing sense is that even in more emotionally-grounded moments, we may actually conclude that on given occasions, throwing respect right out the nearest window might be the absolute right thing to do.<\/p>\n

From our leaders who rhetorically fail us in their own examples…<\/p>\n

From our own cyberspace moments when rants become our routine…<\/p>\n

People are not sincerely respected.<\/p>\n

The most poignant example came for me yesterday at the polls.<\/p>\n

I decided some months ago to throw my political hat into the primary ring.\u00a0 For me it wasn\u2019t about politics or any perceived unworthiness in my opponent; it was more about being an ordinary person involved in local government.\u00a0 How often, I ask, do we sit back, take note — frustrated with municipal ongoings, but refuse to get involved, still firmly maintaining the right to complain?\u00a0 Feel great grace, friends… I have often done the same.<\/p>\n

And so I decided to get involved.\u00a0 Let me share with you from the onset that I did not win.\u00a0 While a novice, I ran against an older gentleman who has served for decades, belongs to a family of career politicians, and has significant name recognition.\u00a0 Let me also share that even as an enthusiastic newbie, I received an encouraging, far-more-than-forecasted number of votes.\u00a0 It was a great, competitive race.<\/p>\n

When I arrived in those early hours to greet people at the polls (also known in some circles as bombarding voters with more information than they really want),<\/i> one of the first persons I met was my opponent.\u00a0 I had not met him previously.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know much about him, save what I knew publicly about his family.<\/p>\n

When he shared his name, I was so excited… \u201cRichard, I\u2019m so thankful to meet you!\u00a0 I\u2019m eager to get to know you today — and know how you think and what you truly believe.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

You know, I wonder now what his initial thoughts of me were; he seemed a little guarded, surprised, and no doubt pondering the sincerity of my words.\u00a0 I really respected him, but then again, he had no way of knowing that.\u00a0 Most likely to him, I was merely the opponent.\u00a0 In some cases (as evidenced especially at national levels),<\/i> that equates immediately to \u201cenemy\u201d or \u201cadversary\u201d or \u201cperson we must always disagree with.\u201d\u00a0 Hence, such also oft equates to that justification for throwing out respect.<\/p>\n

Over the course of the day, Richard and I shared our similar values… our commitment to integrity… our appreciation for family, faith, and our mutual love of the Indy 500.\u00a0 We spent hours getting to know one another, interrupted only by asking for the votes of those we semi-subtly bombarded with information.\u00a0 Throughout the day, I learned to appreciate Richard.\u00a0 And hence, allow me to say more as an observation than a boast, it was obvious that not all candidates nor supportive citizens shared that respect. \u00a0Perceived adversary status seemed more prevalent.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, as the results were unknown but both Richard and I knew it was a competitive race, I shook his hand, wished him well, and sincerely shared, \u201cPlease know I say what I mean and mean what I say.\u201d<\/p>\n

He knew I meant it.\u00a0 He also knew he was respected.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Respectfully…\u00a0 always…<\/p>\n

AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This week I\u2019ve wondered if we have a harder time being respectful than we think we do.\u00a0 It seems if just the right issue or experience arises, we are far too willing to sacrifice respect in the name of passion, emotion, or justice… far too willing.\u00a0 In fact, my growing sense is that even in … <\/p>\n

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