A friend of mine recently shared these thoughts of Bob Nichols, who works in the Methodist Church, in Tennessee, on her Facebook timeline.  They struck me as poignant and needed. So I commented on them further. And now I share these thoughts with you.

Stay still my Quaker heart! Oh how the message of truth in these words resonates in my chest! I still believe in “We the People.” Red and yellow black and white they are precious in His sight, and therefore my sight, too!

Pointing fingers will never hold back the tide of Injustice. But living rightly and loving our neighbor is a bright light towards-honest societal Reformation. It is not just a government responsibility. It is yours and mine. It begins with me and you!

We can choose to love and care about people, who do not pass our particular political litmus test! Nearly every time that I choose to look Beyond first Impressions, and deeper than surface examinations about someone; I find something endearing and that I like. Even when this deeper look is about people of Persuasions different than my own.

There are a few people who have embraced some ideological ill, evil or error and I cannot like, sanction, support or Embrace those people; Until they change for good. But those people are few and far between.

By far, my greatest assignment while I am here on Earth is to look for, cultivate and encourage the good I can find in people. And furthermore, it is my duty not to be so boxed in my thinking that I cannot honestly look at, consider and be influenced by, the genuine thoughts and feelings of others. This is honest citizenship, belonging to each other, you and I. Therefore, it is basic patriotism 101 to me, that we respect each other as fellow American citizens.

My father taught me that my freedom ends where your nose begins and vice-versus. So there are certain manners that we should rightly expect and defend, even in civil discord (err. discourse – lol). We should respect each other enough, to hear a differing opinion, without ill will. Disagreement does not have to lead to disrespect. In the course of exchanging ideas, we can keep the foundation on unity as citizens, that we value and respect each other. But yet, there is a great deal of mayhem, unrest, and downright violence over what should be matters of simple, civil discourse.  So because of this tendency today, for Americans to want to shout each other down without respect, I have made certain choices for myself.

For instance, I never make political comment for just this reason. I am a patriot at soul. But a patriot that believes in “we the people.” That we must under God’s love Embrace each other, even the ones are very different in opinion than ourselves. And not look for differences but look for the light in each one, and nourish it with our own flame.

The old saying is that “We are not our brother’s keeper.” -unknown .. And I get the value of autonomy and personal responsibility. However in a true sense of the word, we really Are Our Brothers Keeper. While I believe it is your duty to run your own ship of destiny, and the same for me. I further believe that it is our combined duty of faith, heritage and citizenship to be pledged to render aid and care for each other, whenever we can.

My father may have said that “your freedom ends where my nose begins.” But he also said, that though he may vigorously disagree with what you say, that he would fight for your right to say it! And so he did in WWII. (John W. Carter. Sr)

So what can you do as a citizen to value and respect other citizens?

#1- Do not always “have” to express your opinion. It is not always fruitful and often makes things worse, not better.

#2- Learn to actively listen. Don’t just anxiously wait for the other person to stop speaking, to share your own wordy string.

#3- Put yourself in your brother of sister’s shoes. Try to imagine and see what in their culture, background, training and experience has shaped them, the way it has.

#4- Be willing to learn. We do not know everything. The most boring person is a know it all. Be open to the fresh strength of new ideas and broadening your perspectives.

#5- More lessons are caught that taught. Often the best way to share your ideals is not pushing them down someone else. But living such a genuine life of good, that something attractive about you appeals to the other person. When they sincerely ask about you and your thoughts, then you have earned the right of deeper dialogue.

#6- Believe that you make a difference.  Simple, single, individual Americans are the bedrock of society. When we as a people honestly care and live according to high moral standards, then society around us begins to change, because of us.

#7- Learn your own limitations and how small you are in the overall picture. This sounds like contradiction of what was just said. But it is balance, not contradiction. It is the other side of the see-saw. If humility does not grace your belief that you make a difference, then this attitude becomes pompous, unrealistic and arrogant.  When I see my fellow man’s opinions just as important, as my own; I am on the thresh-hold of big relationship discoveries.

In conclusion, remember these two points.

1- It is our combined duty of faith, heritage and citizenship to be pledged to render aid and care for each other, whenever we can.

2- We should not look for differences only but more-so, look for the light in each one, and nourish it with our own flame.

God bless,

Slam-

PS. Let these thoughts take root remembering, this grand old Song
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
Songwriters: PETER SCHOLTES
© MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
For non-commercial use only.
Data From: LyricFind

Slam – December 2017