32nd day of Lent

I’ve been thinking about what Jesus said. He said a lot of things, but one thing has been weighing on my mind. “Love you neighbor as yourself” is what he said. My experience teaches me that when I really get to know someone they are easy to love. If a circumstance causes a slant of opinion to be superimposed upon a person, that superimposition can create an obstacle of getting to know someone. Gossip someone may share about someone else can create a bias in my heart and mind and make it more difficult for me to know someone, and thus difficult to love that person. But if I get a chance to know someone, it continues to be amazing to me how much easier it is to love that person. Even if they are very different from me, they become easy to love. Even if they believe differently than I do, they become easier to love. When I take the chance to understand - really understand - someone, then I find, in most cases, they become people that can be loved.

Therefore, I really enjoy moments when I can let down my hair (so to speak) with someone, and they can let down their hair with me. It is amazing how much we have in common as human beings. And when we discover our “commonness” then we have a common ground for building a relationship. It is a wonderful thing.

So I’m going to be very intentional about creating opportunities and seizing opportunities for understanding and knowing people. If I do this, then maybe they will return the favor. And who knows what a difference this ripple effect may have in this world. Remember, I am a person who believes that it really is possible for there to be peace on earth one day. Maybe this is how I can contribute. May it be so.