(4-5 min read) Remember the dress colors dilemma? Is it White & Gold or is it Black and Blue? And how viral that went? One thing for sure it made us all laugh in amazement, 🙂 didn’t it? For one I was like, “These color sets are not even close! Personally, I can only see the one set of colors. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get even a glimpse of the other set of colors!” I’d look, I’d try, I’d squint, I’d close one eye…… yet nothing……. All I can see is the one set of colors…………. then I’d laugh in amazement.

It is indeed incredibly astonishing how we can see things so differently, yet what we need to strive for is not necessarily to see the other set of colors, rather find the commonality in understanding the differences. Without this commonality in understanding, we focus on how could ‘they’ see it that way.  Which generate feelings from annoyance and irritation to hate, anger and rage. You must admit that this state of annoyance, irritation, hate, anger and rage is what we are experiencing as a people right now. It is the here and now…… We can leave it there and say it is what it is and let this anger and hate continue to fester and flourish, or we can, each one of us, try and work on understanding the commonality in the differences. I heard it said, “it may be impossible to find Common Ground, but to find Commonality is rather easy. “ But my friend, to find commonality, there has to be an attempt to understand the ‘why’ behind the opposite point of view. You won’t change your mind but you won’t be astonished by the “How could you, my friend, even think ‘that’ way!” This statement right here is what generates that hate and that anger and that rage, that we all need to work on harnessing.

Here’s a simple attempt to demonstrate.

Look at Judges……..  Do not worry. I am not getting into the Supreme Court dilemma at all 😀

A judge rules/decides on questions of the law. Two parties against each other are using the law to prove each other wrong. The judge interprets the law to decide which one of the two parties is correct. Are we in agreement so far? In some cases no pun intended, a tough case goes undecided all the way up to the Supreme Court. WHY? So the judges on the Supreme Court interpret what has been evading everyone along the way and render a final decision. So let me ask you a question. Do we typically get a decision that’s 9-0 or 8-1? Or do we typical get a 5-4 kind of decisions!?

Reda! What are you driving at? I am driving at the law is the law, but it is the interpretation that is different. Even in the highest court of the land. We, people, know that this judge is liberal so he/she will vote this way and this judge is conservative so she/he will vote that way, and it hinges on the so called ‘swing’ vote judges!!! Correct??? Imagine if, just for a moment, imagine if every judge, any judge anywhere is not predetermined due to the filter that he/she possesses is soooo FAIR that she/he is a SWING vote….. no predisposition……. no bias…… no inclination…. no allegiance……

Wouldn’t you rather yourself be a swing vote on everything that comes up?? Imagine that you would look at both sides of ANYTHING, evaluate then render YOUR personal decision!?

You may be laughing out loud right now thinking ‘keep dreaming Reda, we are only human’. Yes, exactly. You and I are human. Yes, you and I can see the ‘why’ behind the ‘other’s’ point of view. I can keep my ground while understanding the opposite view; this right here my friend is COMMONALITY.

Commonality generates respect, admiration and Love while holding the opposite point of view.

Besides, that is indeed what the Bible holds us to…………. Doesn’t it? So if you are feeling annoyed or irritated at your fellow human for holding the opposite view, then it is time to consider looking for this so called COMMONALITY 🙂

My Lord and my Creator, You have created me with a heart LARGE enough that I hope I realize the extent of that Largeness. May I examine myself and see if I am holding ANY animosity against ANYONE. May I bring that to You and leave it at Your feet. Then turn around and work hard on understanding the why behind their convictions, so that I may reflect Your love to whomever I encounter. For You my Lord and my Savior are the God of LOVE and not of hate. I love You and I thank you so dearly. Amen.