Eyes to See

Where did you grow up?  In the suburbs, rural, or urban environment?
What is your ethnic background?  What is the ethnic make-up of your family?
What types of foods did you eat growing up?
Who were your friends and neighbors?
What values were passed on to you?

We have a problem in our nation.  There is more taking sides, division and disagreement than conversation and listening and seeking to understand.  I know I'm guilty of the same thing.  BUT, i really want to lean in.  I know that all the questions above all lead to forming us and giving us the vision or lens we have for viewing the world.  When different lenses comes in contact with another's lenses, it can either lead to curiosity and questioning or frustration or sometimes even volcanic eruptions.

When someone says something you don't understand, when someone posts something you think is offensive, or when an event happens in the news that makes you irate - press in!  Instead of being dismissive, what if you tried to take yourself out of your lens to try, even a little bit, to understand where that other person is coming from.  What has happened in their life, in the life of their family in the past few generations?  What can you learn as you listen or read or interact? 

Do certain politics or policies bother you?  Lean in!  Are there people that really bother you?  Lean in!  Do other people's choices for music or podcasts or parenting styles or financial decisions?  Lean in!  You are bothered by a generation obsessed with protesting?  Lean in!  You hear complaints about inequality (in the workplace, in schools, in history, etc)?  Lean in!

I hope that we can begin to improve our vision and work on having better eyes to see.  Maybe, just maybe, the confounding will become the teaching which will lead to the transforming of our hearts and minds and bridge the deep divides among us.  Lean in.  Look intently.  Know your lenses and be open to new ways of seeing and understanding!