An old Rabbi once asked his pupils how they could tell when the night had ended and the day had begun.”Could it be,” asked one of the students, “when you can see an animal in the distance and tell whether it’s a sheep or a dog?””No,” answered the rabbi.
…
Another asked, “Is it when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell whether it’s a fig tree or a peach tree?””No,” answered the rabbi.”Then when is it?” the pupils demanded.”It is when you can look on the face of any man or woman and see that it is your sister or brother. Because if you cannot see this, it is still night.”–Hasidic tale, quoted in “Peacemaking Day by Day”Each day we encounter people from all walks of life; some who feel like kindred spirits and some who seem like strangers.  It seems easy to accept those we view as being ‘one of us’ and feel a separation and even fear of  those whose lifestyle choices are seemingly at odds with our own.  Often we identify with our family, our gender/relationship orientation, our country of origin or religion and assume that every person who fits into those categories will agree with our point of view. Ain’t necessarily so. 

Today I sat in the presence of a young Gay man and wept on the inside as he described how it felt to be in a disenfranchised minority. Imagine what it would be like (if you are in the  heterosexual majority) if the media portrayed mostly same sex couples enjoying their relationships and those who were accepted walking down the street showing affection were of the same gender and only Gays and Lesbians were legally permitted to marry, adopt children or be covered under each others’ insurance policies. And then further imagine, that you as a heterosexual person were at risk physically by those with bigoted mentality who would seek to do you harm, because you were straight. Something to ponder. My take on it is that love is love is love and healthy relationships come in all forms.  

I look at my Jeep and note that is a mobile billboard for my socio-political beliefs. I have one bumper sticker than reads COEXIST made up of various religious symbols, another that says Manifesting Miracles and yet another that reads Just Love (created by my artist friend Rod Schichtel) and then a fourth that proclaims Be At Peace. In between is the logo for the car…the word PATRIOT. It is totally possible for me to be both a patriotic American and a planetary citizen. My former car wore a bumper sticker that said God Bless The Whole World…No Exceptions.

Consider your values and what they mean to you. How do you live them in your life?  Are they about inclusivity or exclusivity?  Are they designed to create a more healed and holy planet; one on which all feel loved and accepted?

 

http://youtu.be/Ne1lkEEmRCI   Every Kinda People by Robert Palmer