Love thy neighbor as thyself. — Mark 12:31
Lee and I have friends who we travel with and spend a great deal of time with who have totally opposite political views than ours. Election time is always interesting. As I was thinking about how we navigate our differences, I thought it would make a great Wednesday message.
It is easy to love our neighbors when we see eye to eye. The challenge comes when their opinions, experiences, or choices differ from ours.
Yet Jesus did not tell us to love only the people who agree with us. He simply said, “Love thy neighbor.”
In the story of the Good Samaritan, the person who stopped to help crossed a deep divide between communities. While others passed by, he saw a wounded person and responded with compassion. His actions remind us that loving our neighbor begins with seeing a person whose needs matter to God.
Every person we encounter bears God’s image. Behind an opinion is someone with a story, someone who has known joy, disappointment, fear, and hope. We may understand that person better if we slow down long enough to listen.
We can hold firmly to our convictions and still speak gently. We can disagree and remain kind. We can set necessary boundaries while continuing to pray for someone’s good. (That’s what we have done with our friends. We agree to disagree and TRY not to talk about it.)
Before our next difficult conversation, perhaps we can pause and ask: Am I listening to understand? Will my words reflect the love of Christ?
Sometimes love looks like resisting the urge to have the last word. Sometimes it means asking a sincere question. Sometimes it means offering help to someone whose perspective we may never share.
We may not resolve every difference, but we can choose how we treat one another. And through patience, compassion, and grace, we can help our neighbors experience something of God’s love.
Shine, Shine, Shine!