Learn to prioritize what really matters

Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. - Robert Frost

At a time of conflict when we need to be at our best in terms of listening...we stop listening. We are all pretty good at dividing things up into categories: Republican/Democrat, Catholic/Protestant, Black/White, Good/Bad.

This is not serving us well. We are dismissive of people and their beliefs when they do not align with our own. Why do we do that? Why aren’t we more willing to look for our commonalities rather than fighting over our various thoughts on how to apply our convictions?

If we think about the upcoming election year in the midst of all our division - this seems like the perfect time to remind ourselves of this: in a time of personal crisis, the person most like to step up to the plate and sacrifice for us is someone who we may disagree with on many issues but love nonetheless.

I am pretty sure my brother and I will always vote a different ticket. But if I am in crisis and I need him to drop everything and drive from Atlanta to Richmond, he will do so with no questions asked.

I know virtual strangers who will agree and vote like me in elections, but they will NOT drive ten hours to bring me a cup of coffee and a shoulder to cry on.

We need to adjust our priorities and our skills accordingly.

CHALLENGE: I want to challenge you to really work hard at loving people without demanding that they agree with you on your hot button beliefs. OK? Try.