Here is the TL;DR for this article. Humility is needed to know I don’t know everything, and love is needed to empathize with your enemy.
In this deep division in our country we are struggling to find common ground and we need it right now. Let’s take a deeper look at these two characteristics and how we can do better.
“For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.”
1 Corinthians 13:9-10
In this vast world, our puzzle piece only sees the pieces that touch us. We may be more connected then ever and get news from all over the world but these snippets can’t tell us everything about those they feature. This taking the world in, one snippet at a time, means our minds fill in the blanks with limited information.
Assumptions are the way we see the world in our minds. Even the richest world traveler may only see the nicest places around the world, but does not see their culture in its entirety. The community service volunteer may know their neighbors and community well but that is just one corner of the puzzle.
Realizing no matter how hard we try we can only know in part means we must hold lightly to our beliefs. This does not mean to be lukewarm in the practice of our beliefs but we must not look down on those with different beliefs.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely;”
Proverbs 3:5 NABRE
Now Love is the perfect, for where our understanding falls short love allows us to go beyond our understanding. You do not need to understand someone to love them. To see them as human and attend to their needs requires no shared language. Love is a universal language, a smile is an olive branch to someone who feels alone. Getting the door for someone or making room for them says, “I see you”.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NABRE
Now let’s be more specific about our divisions here in America, though we want different things both sides are seeking what they see as justice.
Those who are left seek justice for marginalized and what they see as the protection of individuals rights. Those on the right seek justice for law and order and what they see as traditional values and morals.
I’m not saying either is right or wrong, what I want is for us to see each other as human beings and to treat each other with compassion. We need to go the extra mile for the person we do not agree with.
“If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.”
Matthew 5:40-41 NABRE
Now there are those who just want to fight, be mindful. Someone looking for a discussion cares what you say, they want to understand and they want to be understood too. If you realize you are talking the the former, find a polite way to exit the conversation. There is no understanding being reached by someone who just wants to win; discussions are not a zero-sum game but an exchange of puzzle pieces that help us see the bigger picture.
“A person gains honor by avoiding strife, while every fool starts a quarrel.”
Proverbs 20:3 NABRE