Saturday, June 27, 2009

loving through the differences


Charity is commendable; everyone should be charitable. But justice aims to create a social order in which, if individuals choose not to be charitable, people still don’t go hungry, unschooled, or sick without care.

~ Bill Moyers ~
television journalist and social commentator


I am always shocked when people I love have remarkably different political views than I do. All evening, I contemplated the issue. How can we, when we are diametrically opposed in our opinions, maintain a connection?

What I view as stewardship of the planet, they view as taking away our freedom. What I view as taking away our civil rights, they see as protection from terrorism. How can we work this out?

All I know is that this is a challenge for me. I must learn to love in spite of our differences of opinion. I must learn to stay connected without giving myself away or letting go of my opinions.

Any suggestions for how to do that?

5 comments:

Carrie Wilson Link said...

I live with a man committed to capitalism, and I become more of a socialist every day. What I try to remember is we really DO want the same things, we just have very different ideas of how to get there.

Wanda said...

Brilliant. Thanks.

christina said...

Yes and yes. I like to listen during times like this.
xo

contemporary themes said...

I feel you on this. My entire family is committed to a different political party than I am. And my bestest friend is committed to capitalism. It's a tough one, and the thing with me is that I usually feel like I must be wrong. BUT, I'm committed to myself and so I keep believing there enough space for all of us and we can still love each other. Whew! It's tough,though.

SE'LAH... said...

Agree to disagree and
love unconditionally.

forgive them, they know not what they do?