Vive la différence! We often say that, but do we really mean it? Don't we more often tend to seek out those who think like we do, act like we do and live like we do? Don't we often stay far away from those who hold extremely different opinions and world views from us?
It's understandable that we do that. We hang with our own tribe. We avoid a lot of conflict by not hanging out with those unlike us. Don't we?
Do we really? Or does it keep us from growing? Does it keep us stuck in old thought patterns and behaviors? It certainly can.
It seems to me that if we really want to change what's wrong in the world today, if we really want to be peace-seekers and peace-makers, we may want to at least consider the notion of moving toward those who are different from us. We may want to consider listening to voices that don't sound like ours. Voices that are saying different things than we are. Voices with which we aren't always comfortable.
Having said this, I admit to being outside my comfort zone with this idea, too. Yet, I've been thinking a lot lately about how I can share peace, how I can let peace live in me and then bring it out into the world. And I don't think it's by staying in my comfort zone—and always hanging with my tribe.
What do you think? Can we really try to celebrate difference? And can we find some common ground with "the other?" I'd love to hear your experience of this.
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