Curious things start to happen to people when they listen generously. At the most superficial level, one hears things that he or she might not like. But one also hears the sincerity of people’s convictions, the authenticity of their experiences, and the nuance of their narratives. Being open is transformative because, almost inevitably, one finds that the stories they’ve been told about what people believe oversimplify reality.
What Teaching Ethics in Appalachia Taught Me About Bridging America’s Partisan Divide. There’s a language for talking about hot-button issues. And we’re not learning it. John F. Harris
I continue to be intrigued and troubled by the political, ideological And theological divisions that prevail in our culture. The referenced article presents some challenging thoughts about how we can move toward a a more civil and productive society.
Finding the idea of “Generous Listening” attractive, I initially thought I would just share the quote. Then I realized that would be nothing more than a meme, a cute, but pithy fleeting glimpse. The idea deserves more than a glimpse. The subject of division is too important to be dealt with memes and 140/280 character tweets. It is the character of our media saturated society to inform ourselves, shape our beliefs and influence others with annotations.
I perceive that condition is a product, at least in part, of our desire for utility and efficiency; driven by ever increasing demands on our lives. The issues that face us as a society and the church, et al , are far too deep and complex to be addressed so casually. Compromise, reconciliation and peace do not come cheap.
The attendant article provides opportunity gain insight into the challenges, as well as, possibilities for progress.