When worlds collide… Important dialogs can begin if we let them

One of the parts of expat life that I looked forward to the most is living on a compound with people from all over the world.  …People of diverse races and religions and values and personal histories living next to each other as neighbors…

When Worlds Collide, Important Dialogs Can Begin If We Let Them

Last week  I shared a post with my friends – including some of my expat neighbors, about the people from Iran that were arrested after they recorded their own “Happy” YouTube Video.

I shared it because I’ve been really caught up in the news in the past few weeks:

  • News of mass abductions.
  • News of a death sentence for a woman who married outside of her absent father’s faith, that will be executed once her baby is weened.
  • News of others that have been arrested, beaten and jailed because of a stand they have taken.

I shared it because the longer I live as an expat in a land that operates in many of the same ways as Iran, the more I sense a silent pressure building between our little trips outside of this country.

I shared it because my heart hurt when I heard the story of young people trying to do something fun to celebrate the beauty of their country – only to come face to face with some of the reasons their land is often stereotyped.

I shared it because freedom is a core value of mine.  And a cause my family members have given years of their lives to.  (A cause they have been thanked for profusely, by those who have benefitted from their service.

Bottom line…  I shared it from my own perspective. 

My neighbor read it from her own heart and her own perspective. 

Each one of us brought our personal history and values and began commenting.   Before long we were engaged in a rich dialog about what freedom means.  (A discussion that has caused me to think deeply about  my core values, how I would rank them, when they are helpful  and should be acted on, and when they are disrespectful to others.)

Our social media conversation soon sparked the interest of others and expanded.

When the public discussion ended my neighbors and friends on the other side of the world had breathed life into a dream I shared in a SmartBlog post over a year ago.

A dream I imagine everytime I see people and organizations and countries engaged in divisive conflicts.

Think for a minute about a hot topic that is dividing people you love, an organization you support, or a community you live in.   

As soon as you’ve got it, imagine what would happen if…

  • We would sit down at a table surrounded by diverse people and really listen?
  • We allowed others to share their stories and convictions unapologetically and with passion?
  • We left those conversations and examined our own hearts and motives?
  • We dived into world history to learn from the past?
  • We came back to the table to share what we’ve learned, deeply desiring to better understand?
  • We would sit at that table and intentionally look fear (and some squiggly things) in the face and begin to turn each one of those rocks over?

Can you imagine what kind of creativity and energy we would unleash?

Or how many problems we could solve?

Or how many people we could bring together?

Those women just deepened my conviction that this dream is possible!

I invite you to share the dream with me…  And be The Change, You Want To See!  

 

Image credit:  iStock

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6 thoughts on “When worlds collide… Important dialogs can begin if we let them

  1. I DO share your dream! It’s beautiful, life changing and world changing.

    I used to be so frustrated at big family gatherings when I could not talk to some people for long because there wasn’t room for conversation in their world of right and wrong. Anyone that goes to a grocery store and not a farmers market is awful. We need more gender neutrality for our girls and barbie is where we need to start.

    Even when I agreed, I wasn’t vehement enough or passionate enough or closed minded enough to all other arguments. It’s our diversity that makes the world interesting, not our unity of thought.

    Thanks, Chery!

    • Yeah! Thank you for sharing the dream Alli! I’m with you… This dream has been an evolution of thinking and action. I can tell lots of stories about times I’ve been too close minded, or not passionate enough. It is all about learning and growth!

  2. Sounds like you’ve got the key to world peace there. The trick is getting everyone on board. John Lennon sang a song where he imagined a world in which the differences that divide us did not exist, but I would rather imagine a world where our difference do exist, because let’s face it, that’s reality and yet in spite of those differences, we all allowed our first thoughts towards one another to be ones of love, acceptance and forgiveness. We can’t always give one another affirmation, but we can always give one another grace.

  3. Chery,

    My response may sound discouraging… but I believe it’s hopeful.

    Not everyone is going to get on board. Not everyone sees the value. Not everyone shares your dream. And that stinks.

    but the hopeful part?

    A LOT of people are ready, and others are simply waiting to be challenged to join the dream!

    The truth that so many people don’t share this dream is liberating for me. It’s not my job to change them but to challenge them, and then move on. We can’t manage people into being dreamers, but we can try to inspire them. From that point forward, it’s in their lap.

    By the way… you do a great job of this! Keep it up my friend!