Gratitude is a powerful choice – even when we disagree.
Every person that you meet makes an impact on your life - no matter if it’s in business, your family, your community, in politics, or around the world. We all encounter people of different backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, ethnicities, languages, traditions, opinions, and attitudes every single day. The perspective that we take as we travel through each day’s journey and encounter our similarities and differences make a world of difference on the amount of impact we have in the lives of everyone around us. How we view the world, the systems and processes that be, our part in this thing we call life and what it’s supposed to look like, and how we feel fulfilled in what we get to be a part of regardless of the outcome is ultimately determined by two components: (1) how we approach life itself – where is our foundation; and (2) how do we accept, process, and respond to what is happening to us – both directly and indirectly.
One thing Iowans continue to prove to me is that even when we disagree – gratitude is a powerful choice. I had never really sat down and thought about it in the way I do tonight; but gratitude even when we disagree can ultimately change the dynamic of conversations, the cohesiveness of communities, and the solutions that we implement into every component of our existence.
Being involved in the political landscape, I am constantly surrounded by different ideas, theories, proposed solutions – you name it; and there are times where I will agree completely, times I agree mostly, times I will agree partially, and times I will not agree at all. Yet, Iowans go about the political process very differently than we do back home in Pennsylvania. I’m used to people finding something to disagree about no matter the topic because it drives this dramatic experience that fuels our very fight or flight nature and satisfies our personal prides when we feel like we’ve won something out of the exchange. Yet, again, Iowans go about life itself completely differently. They’ve taught me that saying thank you to someone for taking an informed stand for something or someone is personal, powerful, and life changing. Being able to listen, ask questions, gain understanding, and discuss alternatives even if neither side changes any position they had before the conversation began is a beautiful thing.
If I’m honest, we need a lot more of this type of life experience in every area of human existence. Respect is something earned not given; and it is earned best through mutual respect of persons and positions regardless of the outcome. Understanding someone else’s why or even respectfully asking someone their why on a given conclusion – not to change their mind but simply to listen and understand – is one of the most powerful acts of personal ministry that any of us could ever gift to those around us or even ourselves.
The reality is none of us are perfect, none of us have the perfect answer to every question imaginable, and none of us will ever fully comprehend the rationale behind the choices of every person. It’s an impossible capacity to fulfill in our mere human intellect. However, we can choose to still have conversations over arguments. We can choose to listen to understand before even considering a response – if we respond with our opinion at all. We can choose to love others by first respecting them – even if we don’t get respect in return. Will it be difficult at first – absolutely! BUT it plants the seed and waters the field to a more unified world that we all claim to seek in everything that we do.
We must learn to speak less, listen more, and respect always – in all circumstances – not wanting something of power, control, or influence as the result. Rather, we should do so simply for the cause of loving and respecting others; and then just watching the internal impact of that love and respect display itself as a ripple effect of change in the hearts and minds of everyone around us. We have a clear and logical choice to make in our approach to every human encounter; and starting with love and respect in an attitude of gratitude gives us the best opportunity for unity that we could ever imagine.
