Differences and Diversity

What is it about differences and diversity that often times brings out the absolute worst in us. We boast that we are a people of faith, yet our words and actions more closely resemble people drenched in fear, not faith.

To me, it matters not what the church signage states on the place that one calls a spiritual home or gathering place. What counts is what you get out the messages, what you put into their commandments and commendations, and how you reconcile your own actions; recompense, penitence, contrition, and growth from having learned a lesson.

The political and religious climate in this day and age, this twenty-first century, has been birthed, fostered, and well staged to make those whose fears make them vulnerable, people they would not normally be.  Hunger, grief, and fear will change a person and cause them to act in ways they would otherwise view as reprehensible.

Differences, the climate of life on earth has been cultivated into hate, intolerance, and denigration, simply because the seeds of fear were sown.

Diversity, the values of life on this earth have been hacked into something unrecognizable, simply because the budding nature of change, progression, and moving forward in awareness and compassion.

We are being taught and infused with the notion that despising, hating, and castigating our neighbor is the thing to do; look down on folks who are different, acting and speaking in ways that are atrocious and repugnant to the faith we claim to possess and practice. But ah yes, let us indeed look to the faith, the words of prophets, psalms, Gospels and call out that which is heedence.

Let's Have a Dialog.

Being

Ok, I'm back … yes, it's been a while. I took a job in Sept 2017 that has me multitasking to the umpteenth degree and leaves me horrifically exhausted.  But, the desire to write has won out and I have returned to this dialog box.

Not that it matters, but in the time that I have been away from this blog, I have been diagnosed with Lupus; I wouldn't wish it on anyone, because a walk in the park it is not.  The medications for said Lupus are rather taxing to my system as well and have put a strain on my metabolic system.  It is a vicious and unending circle.

But aside from that, away from the narcissistic bent of the two paragraphs that started this missive, I'm tired.  I know I stated that above, but it is not a tiredness from infirmity or long work hours, it is a tiredness that has been derived from lack of civility, lack of care of the world around us, and from thinking that Galileo was wrong and we individually, colloquially, collegially, culturally, and politically are the center of the universe.

We chide others for being self serving and not giving the 'other side' a chance or a fair hearing, but we do the same thing.  We claim loyalty for countless reasons and causes, but we still choose to act so disfavourably to others that we come close to not recognizing the person we claim to be.

What does all this mean? The answer is painfully simply... be nice. We don't have to agree. We don't have to invite those with whom we disagree into our living rooms or to our kitchen table.  Heck, we can turn off the switch to their access to us.. but WE individually, colloquially, collegially, culturally, and politically need to be nice, be kind, be direct, yet tactful, and we need to be.  Letting others 'be', as well, could be the nicest thing you ever did. 

Let's have a dialog.