When do we determine when to speak up and when to let sleeping dogs lie? When is it itching for an argument? And when is dealing with conflict honestly and productively?
When is it emotionally like being splashed with hot coffee? When is it a matter of being in right relationship with others by having the hard conversations?
There’s a dynamic in life where we should be upfront where we stand on things. Most pontificate to people who don’t want to hear their opinions on whatever controversial issue is the hill they’re willing to die on.
People take offense and get angered by being forced to listen to what they disagree with on fundamental issues and worldviews. When those outlooks or worldviews are an integral part of your identity it makes it very hard to be open-minded to hear the opposing side with courtesy and respect. Most people don’t bother or even attempt to do so.
Sometimes I feel like I’m drowning in a sea of “straw men” arguments and insults from both sides in the culture war. When rage makes us hot under the collar, when humility and wisdom get shut down, people simply don’t listen.
I’m weary of this cycle of bad thing happens, news hypes it up with their editorial spin and the public goes on a blaming circus. It just repeats so often as if no one remembers and ignores their own bad behavior towards the “wrong” side. There’s so much noise, clamor, and pontificating that I shut off due to weariness.
What If?
I started to think, what if some of the culture war origins are actually what makes a good functional individual and society? The polarizing opinion. The dividing line. With all its black and white simplicity and shades of gray nuance.
What if those polarizing viewpoints are needed for us to be truly whole? The coin is not only the head or tails. Both sides of the coin make up the whole coin including the edge or middle ground. Society is the whole coin, not just the side we align with.
Face the Rejection Head On
When we ourselves are being rejected or marginalized it is quite unpleasant, sometime hateful.
But, what if like the salmon swimming against the current in the river, it is a time to keep on swimming upstream?
What if that fact of nature is a reflection to make a choice to travel against the current of our negative situation and crystallize who we are? Do we have the courage to be a witness to the truth?
There’s all sorts of examples of when the culture is wrong, evil or misguided. Likewise, when we are foolish, ignorant or broken. This isn’t a society is always evil or the individual is always right scenario.
Life is a mixed bag of right and wrong on both fronts at the same time.
Accepted AND Rejected
What if we need to be both accepted AND rejected because of who we are and what we stand for?
I’m thinking out loud. What are your thoughts?
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