I've heard a lot of politics lately.
I don't go a day without hearing a conversation on political opinions. Which is understandable, considering our easy and constant accessibility to everyone else in the world. I've heard a lot of these conversations take place in person as well. I've seen people from different camps entirely have peaceful and respectful discourse on issues. I've also seen people on the same side of the fence show their family out the door over small disagreements on a particular. From cool and collected, to heated verbal conflict, I've seen it all.
It doesn't bother me. I think politics are part of who we are, and it would be ridiculous not to talk about it. My problem is when we start thinking we are right. When complementary projections take over and we find ourselves baffled realizing there are people who don't believe the same as we do. Our tribes are no longer just like minded friends we find community and acceptance in, they become war camps ready to bite and claw at the enemy's throat. We get it stuck in our heads we're right, and everyone else is wrong. Spend a little time reading up on world history and you'll quickly realize no one has ever got it right– and we probably never will. There isn't one right way to govern over large groups of people. There are always flaws, and compromises, and evils. But as individuals, we can try to make it right. We can still be good people. Sure we'll always make mistakes, but we could each be a little better.
We can seek to listen first. Listen to people and their stories. Why they think the way they do. Listen to what they've been through. We can aim to learn from each other. Learn from the different stories people have lived and are living. Learn from each other's mistakes and victories. Learn from each other's pain and joys. Above all we can make it our goal to love. When we have listened to the best of our ability, when we have learned to our capacity, love can make up the distance. Love can finish the race for us. When we can't find it in ourselves to agree, we can love. We can realize we're all just human. We can also realize we are dust and breath. We can take hold of the fact we are all made in the image of God, and we all have dreams and purpose. We can stand wherever we are, and we can love.