It’s a prudent practice to heed the wisdom in others \u2014 recognizing none of us are anywhere close to cornering the market on wisdom. I thus spent some time listening to a wise friend this week. I couldn\u2019t scribble fast enough. Here are my notes\u2026 his comments, with a few of my a-ha\u2019s etched in\u2026<\/p>\n
The country is divided. Can you feel the tension?<\/em><\/p>\n But know what\u2019s true?<\/em><\/p>\n We all believe what we believe because we believe it\u2019s best.<\/em><\/p>\n But what happens when what I believe is best is different than what you believe is best?<\/em><\/p>\n We believe what we believe with passion. We believe it\u2019s best. We also believe unity is best. So what is the path to unity?<\/em><\/p>\n Is unity that you agree with me all the time?<\/em><\/p>\n Is unity that we all see eye-to-eye on every single thing?<\/em><\/p>\n Let\u2019s be clear: unity is not uniformity.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cUnity is oneness of purpose \u2014 not sameness of persons.\u201d (as said by Dr. Tony Evans)<\/em><\/p>\n There are people who don\u2019t think like us, act like us, look like us, talk like us. So let\u2019s remember that the name of the game is not trying to get you to believe what I believe; the name of the game is not trying to get you to think, act, look, or talk like me either.<\/em><\/p>\n True unity can only be found when we minimize our personal preferences. But many of us rubber stamp our preferences and put them above all else\u2026 above other people, above divine inspiration and instruction.<\/em><\/p>\n What if true unity can only be experienced to the degree that we have accepted undeserved grace?<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s all about grace. It\u2019s all about grace. It\u2019s all about grace. (Did I mention it’s all about grace?)<\/em><\/p>\n But the reality is that undeserved and unlimited grace only comes from God. From everyone else it is limited in some capacity \u2014 some way, somehow. From everyone else it only goes so far. <\/i>Unlimited<\/strong> grace\u2026 unearned grace…\u00a0undeserved. It only comes from One who is bigger and wiser than we. And there\u2019s only one of him.<\/i><\/p>\n If you\u2019re a woman, pay attention. If you\u2019re a minority, pay attention. If you\u2019re a woman or a minority, it was Jesus who spoke of your value before any of the movements today.<\/em><\/p>\n So want to be part of the solution to the division in this country? Want to be on the path to unity, which most people agree is best? Remember it\u2019s not beating down others so they agree with you; it\u2019s not squelching the voice of varied opinion; it\u2019s not even getting back at them in the next election.<\/em><\/p>\n Unity comes only from the awareness of how hugely much God loves each of us. When we recognize how much God loves us and all he\u2019s done for us \u2014 and all he\u2019s done for the person next to me, regardless of social status, income, or ethnicity \u2014 we learn to treat that person next to us better. We learn to treat him or her with love. All the time.<\/em><\/p>\n Hence, learn how to respond with love.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u2026 to those people you can\u2019t stand\u2026 to those colleagues at work you just wish would be transferred\u2026 away, far away\u2026 Respond in love.<\/em><\/p>\n Our national divide will never get better if we keep contributing to the fire. We\u2019re adding fuel to the fire with our sideways comments\u2026 our angry posts, our cutting comments on social media\u2026 the rolling of our eyes when people are sharing their stories\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n That\u2019s contributing to the division. That\u2019s participating in the work of someone or something other than God.<\/em><\/p>\n Someone mentioned that we are fighting the wrong enemy. So true.<\/em><\/p>\n So let\u2019s be part of the solution. Let\u2019s be the leader of humility, kindness, and grace\u2026 knowing that available, unlimited grace. It\u2019s something that black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Democrats and Republicans, we all have in common.<\/em><\/p>\n Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other\u2019s faults because of your love.<\/em><\/p>\n [FYI: Time with my friend was well spent.]<\/p>\n Respectfully\u2026 It’s a prudent practice to heed the wisdom in others \u2014 recognizing none of us are anywhere close to cornering the market on wisdom. I thus spent some time listening to a wise friend this week. I couldn\u2019t scribble fast enough. Here are my notes\u2026 his comments, with a few of my a-ha\u2019s etched in\u2026 … <\/p>\n
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"