I’m on twitter a lot (@vonralls HMU!). On twitter if you aren’t super liberal you’re an intolerant racist and if you aren’t super conservative you’re a snowflake that wants to ban guns and make everyone gay. There is no middle ground on twitter. Everything and everyone gets set on fire all day every day. If I’m honest, I actually enjoy it. It’s so crazy to watch and read so much chaos. I have to be careful to remember that twitter isn’t really a good example of how our society is in real life. At least I hope it’s not. I always wonder what some of these crazy twitter people are like in real life. Do they just run around getting offended at things all day long? Asking to talk to the manager. Posting pictures of offensive bumper stickers they see in parking lots online so they can tell twitter how outraged they are.

I do not want to be that person.

Joe Rogan had Dr. Cornel West on his podcast recently. A friend of mine posted a clip of it on Facebook yesterday, and it really got me to thinking. Here’s the video:

 

I encourage you to watch the whole thing. It really got me to thinking. Not even about politics or even if I think his politics are right or wrong but about his attitude.

Have you ever paid attention to how you react when someone says something that you don’t agree with or that you don’t believe in? What’s your default move? Is it to consider the other persons feelings and why they might feel that way or do you just want to burn them down and wish them ill will? Do you have the ability to objectively consider an opinion that you don’t agree with and why or why it is not for you? Has someone ever said something that REALLY pissed you off or hurt your feeling? How did you react to it? Do you hate that person forever or do you consider WHY they said it and if it’s something that you should meditate on?

My friend Angelo Sisco over at the Alpha Hippie Podcast likes to say, “Lead with Love.” That really resonates with me lately and I really got that from this Joe Rogan interview. The next time you are engaging in conversation with someone, online or offline, try to lead with love. Try to not only listen to what the other person is saying, but consider why they are saying it. Is this person having a bad day? Is this person having a great day? Imagine what has occurred in this person’s life that has led them to this conversation. What if you had the same experiences in your life that they had? Would you have grown up differently with different opinions than you have now? We are all products of our past experiences and our feelings about ourselves. Try to consider that the next conversation you have. Especially if it’s a difficult one.

I love you all,

-The Rev