the fences.

"The problem of fences has grown to be one of the most acute that the world must face.
Today there are all sorts of zig-zag and criss-crossing fences
running through the
races
and
peoples
of the world.
Modern progress has made the world a neighbourhood
and God has given us the task of making it a brotherhood"
- Sir Philip Gibbs

John and I have some good conversations. Today, we pondered reconciliation:
building up relationships which have been cracked, broken, destroyed
for whatever reason
and creating community once again

In families, in communities, in countries and between races,
brotherhood is often a distant concept
and neighbourhood - reflected in language like "global village" - is
reality.

So we talked, considered,
how do make brotherhood the reality?
and I believe I have found a key - a key, not the key -
to making it come together:
empathy.

Everything changes when you know where a person is coming from.
Everything makes sense, becomes clear
When you realize that your friend's concept of sexuality
...is shaped by her mother and father's absence through her teenage years.
When you understand that your dad doesn't know how to do "family"
...because he grew up in foster homes.

Empathy is a beautiful, profoundly beautiful, thing.

Now don't get me wrong: understanding a person's history doesn't
excuse
that person from their actions.
Your past does not provide you with a get out of jail free card in life.
But it helps those hurting to see that the fault lines are deeper than they
could have imagined
And provides a panoramic for you, as observer, as affected,
and an opportunity for you to act out grace.

I truly believe that this can be brought to larger levels than
1:1 relationships.
I believe that the transition and process is difficult,
it requires effort on behalf of the afflicted,
effort that appears unjust and unfair,
but if we took the time to look beyond what we see
(cliche as it is)
we might be able to usher a period of brotherhood
quite swiftly.

Let's stop living beside each other & begin living for each other.