Changing our attitude

Trudi was thinking that “she wanted more than anything that moment was for all the differences between people to matter no more – differences in size and race and belief – differences tat had become justification for destruction.” (page 336, Stones from the River)

We are more similar than we are different. Even our wants and desires are very much alike … and, yet, we spend so much time concentrating on our differences that we fail to see just how much alike we all are.

What is there in our human make-up that causes us to see only the differences? It is said that prejudice and hatred is learned – taught by those who have great influence over our development. But we all have met individuals who were raised by the same parents, but have drastic different understandings about human beings regardless of their size, race or belief.

What causes one child to become extremely prejudice while his/her brother or sister is open and loving towards all people regardless of who they are? What had transpired in their young lives that made the difference? What were they exposed to that brought about a different attitude towards other people?

Oh, I don’t have an answer … just the questions. Do you have any ideas?

The good news is that none of us have to remain the way we are. We all CAN change … in a heart beat. The question here is, do we want to? Or, even deeper, do we really understand just how prejudice we were really are? Do we actually hear the words, phrases and names that punctuate our every day thinking and speech? And, still further, does our speech change when some of that particular race or religion enters our circle? Or, when the “preacher” enters the discussion? Or, when a woman or child comes within hearing distance of our conversation?

If the answer is “YES” to any of these questions then we have to admit that we are aware of our speech and thinking process and thus, we CAN change our ways of thinking and speaking. It is simply a matter of desire and desire comes from the heart AND if the heart is right then our speech will be right.

So, how does one get his or her heart right? Well, the preacher in me would say, “If you get your heart right with the Lord then everything else will follow.” But, I know some deeply committed Christians who still speak ill of others, who are different then they … and they do not think that there is anything wrong with what they are saying or doing!

It really does come down to desire – the desire to change and thus, change the world in which we live. Nothing is going to happen globally until we change it locally (as the popular saying goes.) Therefore, what are we waiting for?

Quote for today: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's way.” Viktor Frankl