("Dialogue" by Doc Ross) Today I spent an unusual amount of time reading reports, updates, thoughts, reflections and most of all - raw opinions - on issues that have really fired people up in 2011. The HOT ones. The ones that drive rivers of rage in and through our bodies.
Let's put some of the issues on the table:
Liberals vs Conservatives
Right Wing vs Left Wing
Occupy vs Tea Party
1% vs 99%
Being LGBT and Christian
Being LGBT and Muslim
LGBT Marriage
LGBT Sex
Undocumented Immigrants
Borders
Pro-Life or Pro-Choice
Here's more:
Slavery
Black vs White
Gentile vs Jew
Uncircumcised vs Circumcised
Divorce
Abominations
Head Covering
Women in Leadership
So now that I've got your attention... or better yet, I've possibly gotten you stirred up already. Take a few breaths.
A calm question: do you already (in a matter of sentences) feel firmly planted in your position on how you feel about the above HOT topics?
Reflect a bit.
I'm going to list several words and phrases below. Think on them as you will.
Grace
Compassion
Listening
Learning
Hope
Healthy Relationship
Dreams
Faith
Belief
Traditions
Honesty
My Story
Your Story
Do I make sense?
Do you make sense?
Culture
Freedom
Love
Integrity
Share
Each other
Together
Unity
Peace
Clarity
Before we go further I want to make clear that I have simply listed (some) hot issues and a series of words here. Many who read this (if I haven't lost you already) will jump to assumptions that an agenda is forming.
Let's name some of the possible agendas:
Tolerance
Acceptance
Affirming
Anything Goes
Everything Goes
We're all the same
Hippie
Over emotional
Feminine
Ignoring Truth
Ignoring God's law
If at all possible, I would advise that you re-read through these words. Try to read through them only as words and (as much as you can) disconnected from your own thoughts, ideas and influences. Simply take each word for what it means. For example: Head Coverings: cloth or garment placed on one's head and/or Integrity: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
Now that you have re-read through the terms let's think about the following term:
Dialogue
What does the word mean?
Dialogue defined:
...maybe as simple as: conversation between two or more persons
...or more specific: an exchange of ideas or opinions on a particular issue, especially a political or religious issue, with a view to reaching an amicable agreement or settlement.
Do you feel that you have allowed yourself to have 'Honest Dialogue' with others who would oppose your strong beliefs on these issue?
Let's again remember that dialogue is usually - in it's nature - calm and open.
Dialogue is not an argument.
Dialogue is not a session to be convinced or to do the convincing.
Persuasion is not dialogue.
Would you agree that inter-personal, relational, local, national and global tension is rising?
I've worked hard to keep this post as unbiased and open as possible. Try reading through this again if you have doubts. Is there hope for a country, a community, a family, a neighborhood to prioritize these conversations to create (if nothing else) less violence, less hate, less isolation, less insecurity and less polarization... less tension.
The human story - our story - is worth it. I hope. Will we drive ourselves into destruction if we don't simply - better understand each other?
I challenge all of you (as I challenge myself) to engage in more Honest Dialogue as we move into 2012.
Parks, railroads, trails, back yards and open spaces can be some of the best places to try...
Thanks for reading.
