Somehow my life has always been this way. My world is filled with a lot of people – smart, wise people – who land on all different points on all the spectrums of ideological thought and life-journey decisions. I know many loving, dedicated people who have considered deeply the ways to prioritize the factors of their own life and make the best choices they can every day based on those values. And we’re all over the place! It’s awesome! Whether it’s national politics, local laws, their children’s discipline and teaching, what books to read, what to stream, to eat or how to honor God (or choose no God).
I’m fortunate beyond measure to know and love people who have walked all different journeys. Perhaps because we’ve lived in three wildly different parts of this vast country. Perhaps because I’ve been on a long spiritual journey of my own that has taken me through a wild range of challenging intersections and re-routes. I appreciate that I’ve lived wretchedness, blessing and growth and I’m glad to be a work-in-progress. I adore my fabulous family of wide diversity in thought, lifestyle and paradigms.
In my work I’ve always studied the motivations and insights of what makes people tick and I have a deep joy in learning about others’ experiences and passions that leads to their way of walking through life. It’s fascinating and beautiful and it’s how we’re all meant to thrive – as uniquely wired individuals.
I can truly appreciate another’s completely different way to think and it’s imperative that we’re allowed to do so. Indeed it’s only ridiculous to imagine that we would all think the same.
It’s also good to gather with people who think like we do for our communities and study and friendships, and also to genuinely hear people who challenge us. Certainly I know the value of walking in a stranger’s shoes, so I always encourage it. Being willing to do this is how we learn to truly serve and, yes, even influence.
Perhaps because of my own unique journey, the most difficult ones for me to understand are those who believe that theirs is the only right way. This is a choice that rejects growth and shuts down the thing I value most – conversation. I wonder, don’t they realize that they are squashing the very thing that we say we want to protect? In prioritizing uniqueness and individuality, we must also agree to be understanding and curious across any spectrum. These ideals are inextricably linked in a peace-loving society. It’s not easy. It requires that our first assumption might be that “they” are doing what they think is right. They think differently than we do for a reason. It helps to start with “I wonder what they’ve experienced…”
Let’s all be fascinated and truly curious today. Maybe our curiosity can be contagious.
