Tolerance & Acceptance

I'll be honest, lately I've read way too many blogs and Facebook posts about new laws that got passed, old laws that need to change, and how terrible every country in the world seems to be. I'm not always happy as a Canadian with the things that happen in this country, but I am still proud to be Canadian. I don't like everything the U.S.A. does either but that country gets a lot of flack it doesn't always deserve. We live our lives judging anything that doesn't meet up with our own personal standards and ethics. We see, we hear, we read, and we react. I believe more often than not we misinterpret messages and then misdirect our frustrations. I hear the words tolerance and acceptance thrown around a lot these days and they seem to be used interchangeably by many people. I tolerate many things I don't like but my silence does not mean I am accepting nor does mean I am filled with hate, it simply means I do not agree.

I don't agree with many things and that is okay because I don't expect everyone to agree with me either. The people who I am closest to and share many interests and ideals with don't always agree with me nor I them. This does not mean I do not love them, or even reject them as a whole, I simply choose to disagree and we go along our merry little way. I will admit that there are people I do not care to be around, I tolerate them. Tolerance doesn’t mean I have to agree with them, accept what they do, or even like them. Although, as a Christian, I do try my best to love everyone even, when I disagree with or dislike how they behave.

I have friends of various beliefs and lifestyles and I quite enjoy our conversations. They are challenging and fascinating all at once. I love my friends but I don't agree with many of their choices. This doesn't change the fact that I love them as my friends, but there are just certain areas some of them know I can't support them in. My Muslim friends do not support my Christian faith at all, but they do tolerate it as I tolerate theirs. I would not force them into my church any more than they would force me into their mosque. We respectfully disagree with one another and that is alright. 

This is where I cannot seem to relate to some of these zealous people who see any personal disagreement as hateful and wrong. If something goes against my moral code I would hope people respect that choice. If they cannot, they then have the choice to refuse my friendship and not be around me. My obligation is to live peacefully around others regardless of whether I agree with them. I think it is just as wrong and hateful to force others into supporting or doing something they feel is unacceptable as it is for them to tell you the same. It is not right for others to demand individuals or organizations to change their morals to fit another’s alternate beliefs.

Tolerance and acceptance are not the same thing and shouldn’t be treated as such.

You see, it’s okay if you are reading this and disagreeing with me. I’d even go so far as to say it’s okay if you are reading this and don’t like who I am as a person, I can accept that! However if you think that telling me I have to change my core beliefs or do things I feel are wrong to affirm your lifestyle choices is okay, I respectfully will be intolerant of such thinking. If we can agree to disagree and tolerate the differences we have then I think we just may be able to get along.

Solitude and Silence

I was reminded this week of the need to unwind and find a quite place, for those who know me well I am someone who loves to be around close friends and exchange stories. I am not someone who needs to be around a large group of people, however I do like having one or two close relationships around me most of the time. Normally this just happens because I live with other people and if I live with people I can normally get along with them. I have had the opportunity this week to be by myself for a few days and contrary to how I thought it would be I am still sane.The last few weeks there has been discussion on the practice of being alone, being silent, and listening to the voice of God. The being alone part is hard, the being silent part is even harder but I've had a few opportunities to practice and after some of this practice I have to say...it's not any easier at all!

Quite reflection, while difficult for me, has been beneficial and while very difficult it has gotten me to think about just how noisy we make our own lives.There is always a long list of things we can do to keep ourselves busy, to keep ourselves distracted, to hide away from conflicts or problems or maybe just work we don't want to do. We have our phones, computers, game systems, television shows, and many other things and people we can connect with to avoid looking at ourselves. Now I'm not talking about finding yourself deep inside and achieving some profound sense enlightenment, that's really not my thing. I didn't have to dig deep before I could find a few things I've been avoiding looking at in my life, some things God has been trying to get my attention on and I was unintentionally drowning Him out.

I didn't archive some great profound understanding about who I am, I just got to be reminded that there are many things within me that still need some work as well as things I have been blessed with that I should be more thankful for. Maybe you are reading this and you have no problem getting alone and having quite, but on the off chance you're like me I'd challenge you to take an hour this week (yes a whole hour) and with music or without a devise go for a long walk and don't say anything just be still. 

I don't know what your life looks like but I can bet that a little bit of silence may just be what we all need in this world that drowns us in noise.  Psalm 46:10 "He says, "Be still and know that I am God...""

I'm back!

So it's been a few years and if I have any loyal followers left, good on you! After my time in Africa I just felt that I didn't really have anything exciting enough to blog about, nor would I consider myself some wise sage that has advice worth listening to. With all that said, I do love story and while my life is not an exciting story it's mine all the same, and maybe you'll find it funny, or feel you can relate, or that it's just plain weird. Regardless of why you read it (if you read it) I hope you'll enjoy it. I'm going to try and update at least once or twice a week so drop by whenever you want, the content will change as often as my focus...hey look a butterfly...