More things in common than differences

IN our daily dealings with others, especially when we

encounter contradicting views and positions, we should remember that

while we do not ignore our differences, we actually have more things

in common than differences.

            We should try our best not to get stuck with our

differences, with what divide and separate us. Rather, what we should

do is to look immediately at what we all have in common and at what

would truly unite us. The latter has greater value and more lasting

effects than the former.

            In the end, what matters more is that we all are brothers

and sisters, all created by God and, with the endowments given by him,

children of his. We all come from and are meant to be with him in

eternity.

            That is the ultimate reality about us. Those who would

even deny that basic truth should not be dealt with animosity but

rather with kindness and charity, the kind that Christ himself showed

and commanded us to have, a charity that includes the willingness to

suffer and die for the others.

  

            It is this kind of charity that knows how to overcome our

differences if some errors are involved, or how to blend them into an

organic whole of different parts if what are involved are legitimate

differences among ourselves. These legitimate differences can serve as

complementary to each other to build up a greater whole, a larger

picture, a deeper truth.

            In this regard, it would be good if we take the initiative

to establish linkages with others, putting up more bridges than walls.

For this, we need to have an openness of mind and heart, of the kind

that is inspired by the example of Christ who was welcoming to

everybody and quick to forgive those who opposed him without condoning

what was objectively wrong.

            This means we should try to develop a universal heart that

knows how to be all things to all men, as St. Paul once said. (cfr. 1

Cor 9,22) We have to be careful because we tend to enclose and

restrict ourselves to our personal circumstances.

            While it’s true that we are always conditioned by certain

factors, we should never forget that we also have the power to go

beyond those limiting factors and conditiontings because of our

spiritual powers plus God’s grace that is never lacking.

            We just have to learn the social skills. We have to learn

how to be friendly with everyone, even with those who are not friendly

with us. We should try to feel at home with any kind of people we

meet—rich or poor, intellectual or manual worker, etc.

            We may have to use the languages of the heart before the

languages of the mind, by engaging in music, sports, outreach and

charitable works, and other works of volunteerism and altruism that

always attract almost everyone. We have to avoid developing a

bourgeois lifestyle, tribalism, elitism and the like.

  

            In all this, we have to expect a lot of sacrifice and

self-denial to be made. But if we are truly inspired by Christian

charity, we know that all that effort and sacrifice is all worthwhile.

We would be convinced that we actually would gain more than what we

seem to lose.

            We should sharpen our skill in discerning what unites us

more than what divides us. While it’s true that we have our biases,

preferences, favorites and pet peeves, we should not allow ourselves

to be trapped by them. That is why it pays we be sport and game with

anyone and in any situation.

            Especially in those areas where controversy and

contentiousness can be expected, as in politics, and even in our

religious beliefs, we should know how to cruise and maneuver without

getting confused and lost. As long as we always are with Christ, we

can manage. We can avoid getting scandalized and being a snowflake.