Changed

Tonight I sat across from a friend. We've worked together for several years on many service events and we've become good friends. We were together due to a service event planned and inspired by the 9/11 Day of Service and in coordination with our town memorial service. As we sat waiting for people to arrive we began talking. Of course the topic landed on the heaviness of the last 24 hours. Within minutes though, I became very aware that she had big feelings about the shooting yesterday and they were very different feelings than mine. For the flicker of a few seconds my mind was alerted to this as a threat. But instead of reacting or defending I sat back and curiously listened as she shared some of her feelings. 

And you know what. 

She shared things I had never considered. And she shared things that caused me to think. It didn't change my mind or feelings about the shooting, but it caused me to understand her more. I felt more connected to her in that conversation than I ever have. A few minutes later, people arrived and we began the service event and the memorial. 

And you know what. 

The heaviness of the last 24 hours washed away as I worked sided by side and met face to face with people. Children, teenagers, adults serving together. I felt lighter, happier, and had more faith in the world around me as I served.  

So you know what.

If you're feeling hopeless and shattered or you're feeling mad and angry, I've got a pro tip for you. Stop reading this. Stop right now. (actually hang in for a few more lines and then stop).

Look around you. Look at your immediate neighborhood and your community, and go serve someone. Go serve with someone. Go talk and interact with the world around you and make it a little brighter space.

That's all we can control.

That is where we will find hope.

That is where we will find peace.

We will never find peace sitting on the internet making comments about our stance. I have never once heard someone say in a comment thread, "Oh wow, that's really changed my view point!" EVER!

But you know what.

I have heard two people have a conversation face to face with very different points of view and very different ideas walk away loving each other more than when the conversation started.

It's possible.

I know.

It happened to me.

Tonight.

I firmly believe that when we start interacting with each other face to face. When we start listening to each other with sincere intent to understand. And when we start serving each other heart to heart and more importantly side by side, we will find the healing we are all desperately seeking.

When we begin to value 'loving and taking care of each other' above 'being right' that is when we will begin to see each other again as brothers and sisters on this sweet and sacred journey of life.