Two Ways of Seeing the World
Friends.
I shared this the other day as a note, but think it’s worth fleshing out a bit here, it’s abou thow I’m coning to think that there are 2 different ways of viewing the world:
ONE:
I am ME.
You are YOU.
And (therefore) I am separate from YOU
TWO:
God is in ME.
God is in YOU.
And (therefore) God in US connects US so that WE are ONE.
In the first option, you have your beliefs and I have mine, right? And since I am me and you are you and I am separate from you, my beliefs are usually right and yours are usually wrong.
In other words, the way I think the world should run, that’s the way it should run. And if you think differently, you’re (for the most part, anyways) wrong and we are at odds and (essentially) enemies.
We see this a lot in politics, right?
And religion.
And even within religions (ex. Christianity and the thousands of demoninations).
This first option builds walls - it’s a place where conversation is shut down and being right trumps understanding the one(s) we’ve labled as “the other”.
In the second option, though, you might have your beliefs and I might have mine, BUT - God dwells within us both and (therefore) you are a part of me and I am a part of you, we are one (even if/when we don’t see eye to eye).
And so rather than tell you that you’re wrong and demonize both you and your beliefs, building a wall between us … instead, I hold on to the belief that the God in me is also in you, which encourages me to be curious about your way of seeing things so that I can ask questions, hear your perspective and (I believe) learn more about MYSELF without feeling the need to cut you off, push you away, etc.
Now.
I might not agree with you and I might think you are very wrong, BUT you are a part of me that I do not yet know (shout out to Valarie Kaur for that) and therefore I can honor you by listening to you and trying to understand.
This second option builds tables - a place where we can sit and (even if we disagree) continue to be in relationship and brainstorm over a meal about how to make the world a better place amidst our differing beliefs/ideas/values/etc.
I used to live according to the first option - I used to build walls.
When I stood on “the Right”, I saw “the Left” as the enemy - THEY were out to lead us astray, THEIR beliefs were “anti-God”, THEY were lost and confused and stupid.
And then when I stood on “the Left”, I saw “the Right” in the same way that I used to see “the Left” THEY were out to lead us astry, THEIR beliefs were “anti-God”, THEY were lost and confused and stupid.
On BOTH sides I did everything I could to oppose the other side, of which no one could convince me existed any good.
Even though I stood on different sides at different seasons of my life, the energy was identical - I created “an other”, I insisted that “the other” was the enemy … I believed that “my side” was right.
I said things like …
“If you disagree with this, unfriend me.”
“If you support this person or this policy, you are dead to me.”
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
And although there are some policies and ideas that (I think) we DO need to slam the door on and some bridges that DO need to be burned AND some people we DO need to distance ourselves from because they aren’t safe for us or our loved ones or our communities to be near.
I don’t know.
These days I am trying my very best to recognize that the deepest part of every human being is separate from their beliefs, that even if we can’t be “one” on our beliefs and ideas and values, we can be “one” due to our inherent goodness, the breath or spark of the Divine that resides within each of us.
Yes.
It IS possible, I think, to focus LESS on what makes us different and MORE on what makes us one in the same.
And NO …
That doesn’t mean we have to believe what the other person believes.
It doesn’t mean we need to support their causes if we find them to be harmful.
It doesn’t mean we need to back their policies or their candiates or whatever.
BUT.
It does give us space to (at the very least TRY to) be curious about how and why they came to the decisions/beliefs/values they did.
Not that long ago I was in a discussion with someone who is a MAGA supporter and with every fiber of my being I wanted to tell them that their beliefs were utter nonsense.
Instead, though.
I asked some questions - “wow, I believe very differently about that. I can’t for the life of me understand how you could support that agenda or way of being in the world in light of what Jesus taught. Can you help me understand?”
We didn’t end up agreeing.
We actually didn’t agree on much at all!
I didn’t end up feeling any differently about their conclusion.
My blood didn’t really boil any less over what they believed.
BUT.
I did feel differently about THEM - I came away with a better understanding of how they came to their conclusions and was able to see the human being behind the beliefs.
I realize this is all hard and I realize that this road I’m trying to travel is narrow. It’s much easier to join in on the wide road where there’s lots of room for “othering” and name calling and hating and juding and shaming and all the things. And even though I don’t really understand how things work on this narrow road or what it looks like to oppose values or beliefs or policies without opposing the inherent goodness of human beings … I’m willing to explore it, I’m willing to try - and that’s what I’ll continue doing throughout 2025.
I realize not everyone understands.
I realize people want me to choose a side.
I’ve also been told that this road I’m on is the “easy road” and that I’m just seeking a road that doesn’t “make waves” and “upset people” and that I’m “refusing to take a stand” and that I’m “a coward” for not shaming and judging … all the while those same people are filling my inbox with judgement, shame, and degrading comments - withdrawing their support, ending friendships etc.
… That doesn’t seem like a very easy road to me.
Anyways.
Do you have questions about this path of “oneness” and unity and compassion and bridge-building? Are you curious about how it works? IF it could work? Me too. If you drop your questions in the comments, I’ll make note of them and be sure to ask them to some of the upcoming podcast guests in 2025 who are writing about and living according to these ideas.
… And more.
Let me know your questions and we’ll grow together.
Much love.
Glenn || PATREON / ART STUDIO