This week the news seemed to be full of angry shouting people. I wish I could say that I was beginning to wonder
where the ability to have a civil discussion has gone, but I have to say that I
am well into the middle or perhaps past the middle in wondering. It seems like everyone is so interested in
shouting their personal belief that they end up drowning out their own ability
to hear.

If I say that I am pro-life, then it makes different people think
different thoughts. Some cheer and are
glad to have the company, some apply a label and quietly move on, some become
angry and want to tell me how stupid I am, and some stand on the sidelines to
see who will emerge victorious. But does
anyone wonder what I mean by pro-life? Each
person’s reaction has their own label attached to it and they presume that they
know what I mean if I attach the label pro-life to myself. Attaching labels can be risky because
everyone else’s baggage comes with it.
I prefer to say that I believe in the sanctity of every life from the
moment of conception to the moment of natural death. From the time the baby is in the womb, the
baby is ‘he’ or ‘she’ to me – not it. Disability
does not devalue life in my eyes. Age does
not become a reason to encourage suicide.
The closest ‘hot topic term’ that fits what I believe is ‘pro-life’ but
that term does not usually inspire enough dialog for people to learn what I believe. The response seems to be to attack with
rehearsed rhetoric or to quietly slip away hopefully unnoticed.
Unfortunately, no matter what the ‘hot topic’ is and no matter which
side is being stated, the response seems to be identical. Sadly we seem to have
lost the ability to communicate – the ability to have a civil discussion. Without this how can I share what I believe
with you? How can you share your passion
with me?
How can we stop this downhill spiral?
Perhaps it isn’t hopeless. I am
willing to listen. Are you? I can put away the media’s tendency to
stereotype and label people. Can you? If
each of us does this with every uncomfortable conversation we encounter,
perhaps we can begin to change the way people respond to each other – one conversation
at a time. I may not change my point of
view – and you may not either – but a conversation that begins with respect
opens lines of communication that name calling and canned rhetoric close.
Of course, the angry shouting people will still make headlines. Quiet intelligent conversation is probably
not going to make the nightly news; however, it may open many barricaded hearts
wounded by previous battles. There is a
saying that goes something like this:
God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we might listen twice as
often as we speak. I think I will start
there.
I’m listening.
Blessings,
Kathy
22:36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 22:37
Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 22:38
This is the first and greatest
commandment.
22:39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 22:40
All the law and the prophets
depend
on these two commandments.”
Matthew
22:36 - 40 NET