Where does one turn when they feel misunderstood? When they are in a world that SURELY cannot understand what its like to be in their shoes?
Where does one turn when they feel misrepresented in a world that is sooo misinformed?
Stuck in a swirling world of misconstrued information and quick to judge tendencies.
In a climate that cannot truly understand how you feel but also isn’t at fault because they can only speak from their own experiences.
How can someone understand what its like to live in your culture, skin color or emotions when theirs are completely different?
Further yet, who is capable to handle what’s inside of you who doesn’t already have enough of their own heavy, messy and personal misunderstandings?
There is a God who made you who completely understands you but in a world full of distractions, in a mind that doesn’t like to look for him, he can be hard to find…
Not that he isn’t there, but our want to seek him has to be stronger than our doubt that he doesn’t care.
We are stuck in a world that tries to fit circle pieces into square holes…more importantly YOUR circle pieces into square holes.
Where does one turn when they feel misunderstood? When they are in a world that SURELY cannot understand what its like to be in their shoes?
Where does one turn when they feel misrepresented in a world that is misinformed?
Stuck in a swirling world of misconstrued information and quick to judge tendencies.
In a climate that cannot truly understand how you feel but also isn’t at fault because they can only speak from their own experiences.
How can someone understand what its like to live in your culture, skin color or emotions when theirs are completely different?
Further yet, who is capable to handle what’s inside of you that doesn’t already have enough of their own heavy, messy and personal misunderstandings?
There is a God who made you who completely understands you but in a world full of distractions in a mind that doesn’t like to look for him, he can be hard to find…
Not that he isn’t there but our want to seek him has to be stronger than our doubt that he doesn’t care.
We are stuck in a world that tries to fit circle pieces into square holes…more importantly YOUR circle pieces into square holes…
Is it starting to sink in? It’s a very repeatable and relatable question with a not so easy answer..
Sure you can say it’s easy and everyone should get it but if that’s the case..why is it still a problem?
Its 2021 and we are still so caught up in our own prejudices, desires and beliefs that we are quicker to judge the person next to us than we are to take a step back and look at life through their lens.
Its 2021 and we still are judging and treating people differently because of their skin color or traditions.. their sexual preference and identity.
The christians are quick to point a finger based off of their beliefs but are slow to use those same beliefs and values to LOVE the person regardless.
The world is quick to point a finger at Christian’s for being hypocrites but are pressing their same prejudices onto others like the people they accuse of being so wrong.
The Bible that is supposed to be used to live a loving lifestyle pleasing to God is the same Bible that is being used to judge and show people why they are wrong and worthless without the same love it teaches. This is so twisted.
Jesus (our example) had his own personal beliefs, journey and convictions and yet found a way to stand for what he believes in and yet love his neighbor..isn’t that how it is supposed to be?
Jesus was very vocal about his own struggles, wants and desires but also with his choice to put others first and Gods priorities/desires higher than his own. It wasn’t even easy to him and he is perfect.
There is a fine line between standing for what you believe in and berating someone for not having the same beliefs..where is the space for love?
We as a society have replaced love and interaction with division and judgement.
We point a finger but don’t look at those same other three fingers pointing back at us.
We criticize others but do not allow for the chance to change and be better.
We have failed to realize that most of these problems and prejudices would be fixed if we just got off of of our phones and egotistic pridehorse and just TALKED and interacted with eachother with an open mind and an open heart. Starting by seeing someone as they are with their faults and differences and accepting them before we speak.
Not with a preconceived judgement or answer already in mind but with a willingness to learn, do better and JUST MAYBE to admit that sometimes you are wrong. Sometimes you can be shown a better and more conducive way to live WITHOUT TAKING OFFENSE TO SOMEONE ELSES OPINION. We do not always have to agree with someone to love them.
The more I’ve traveled around the world the more I’ve realized we are much more alike than we believe.
The more people I’ve met and talked to people the more I’ve realized that the reasons I’ve been told to dislike someone or disagree with them are false.
We cannot have a conversation or connection with someone if we write them off because they have different beliefs and convictions than us.
The more I put my offended and defensive guard down the more I’ve realized we all breathe the same air and we all just want to be loved. We all deserve to be loved.
The more I’ve quit listening to stereotypes or spoon fed narratives of someone the more I’ve realized we are all just circles trying to fit into square holes.
We are all misrepresented, judged to some degree or hurt.
I’ve noticed that even people who I disagree with on important topics are capable to put those differences aside and amicably decide to view the person as a person and love and learn from them regardless.
We are All just slightly broken people trying to fit into a bandaged broken world.
So where do we go from here?
How do we fix issues that have been suppressed and intertwined into our society since it’s inception?
It starts with a honest conversation but more importantly it starts in your own heart.
I implore us all to check ourselves and any biases that may or may not be present but not make a problem out of one that’s not there. You have to be honest with yourself before you can be honest with others.
I implore us all to HAVE MORE GRACE.
Call out injustices but do it with grace.
Look within yourself but do it with grace.
Who is it that set this perfect and impossible standard to live by (act) that forces you to tear yourself apart when you don’t reach it?
Give yourself more grace. We are all human and all have faults and the sooner we quit acting like we are perfect the sooner we can slowly rid ourselves and the world of those irritating imperfections.
Give grace but be very stringent not to dilute grace with permissing a wrong. There is a fine line between giving grace and allowing something that puts down another human. Grace and allowing a wrong are not mutually exclusive.
Grace is not the same as permitting a wrong.
At the end of the day we all want acceptance.
At the end of the day we all deserve to be treated as the God made people we are.
At the end of the day a wrong is a wrong and if you’re not sure follow the golden rule..treat others how you would want to be treated.
If it allows another human to be treated less than they deserve to be treated there should be no tolerance for it in this world.
If it permits division there should be no tolerance for it in this world.
At the end of the day it doesn’t matter when something occurred or to what degree..we need to give and receive grace and make the change TODAY. We need to have a willingness to change and the willpower to improve.
At the end of the day the answer is complicated but that doesn’t mean it should be brushed off as impossible..we can change and improve one step at a time.
The hard answer to the fore mentioned questions is that if you do not allow others to accept you without judgement they never will. If you do not allow someone a chance to improve they never will.
It goes both ways.
If someone has different life experiences than you but a willingness to improve we cannot hold that against them and cancel them.
If you do not allow others to help you represent yourself and your personal struggles they never will.
Regardless of race, sexual orientation, culture, religion or political views we all bleed the same blood and all need to give end receive a little more grace.
We all need to look out for our neighbor and speak up for injustices.
It is impossible to always say the right thing all the time. Critique the heart and intentions and not just the words or presentation because Lord knows we all slip up.
Be willing to admit that you messed up if you in fact did but be honest with yourself and others.
This world can be a beautiful place if we allow it to be and treat others how we deserve to be treated.
I’m not a perfect example but it’s time for a change and I’m fed up with division and hate instead of connection and love. We should acknowledge and appreciate peoples differences not wash them away or put the person down because of them.
We are on the brink of a beautiful life if we just put in the effort, change the way we view/treat people and show a little more love/grace.
I love you all.
-circle in a square hole
Erbswords 