My experience in Auschwitz this past June was life changing.  Before leaving for Poland, I did a considerable amount of research.  This included autobiographical survivor stories, demographics, stories from family members of Nazi soldiers, German history, liberation stories, etc. I did this because I wanted to be mentally and emotionally ready to listen, hear, see and experience all that I could on that hallowed ground.  Each time I share my Auschwitz experience and answer questions, reminds me that the Holocaust was not only about the elimination of the Jewish religion and 'perceived undesirables'; it was about the dehumanization of people.  It has only strengthened my ministry of inclusiveness and that in each of us there is a story that needs to be shared. 

 

It seems as if I have been asking this question or a variation frequently in the last several weeks, "What if we listened?"  What if we put aside our differences and open, our ears to not only listen, but to hear each other. Rather than dismissing someone because of how he or she look or where they come from, etc.  What if we listened without criticism, judgment or labels?

 

It would mean that we would become interested in what the other is sharing rather than mentally going through our "to do" list or just dismissing them.  It would mean that we would have respect for whomever we were talking with, regardless if they were male, female, young, old, white, black, Native American, Asian, homeless to wealthy, higher educated to not finishing High School, Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Boilermaker or Hoosier, Clergy to Lay Person, Colts fan or Patriots fan, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, etc... We actually might become more engaged with the individuals around us. It would also give us less time to be critical of our surroundings and the people who share the space around us.

 

Now, I am not taking issue with one side or the other, I think the problem lies in the labeling. These categorizations do not unite us; they divide us. They remind us of what we have against each other and give permission to ignore the needs (whether stated or implied) of those who would champion a perspective different from our own. Labels reduce the complexity of cognitive process and emotional experience and everything that makes us sons and daughters of God down to a personal conclusion about a singular matter. They dehumanize.

 

Earlier this year, we saw the State of Indiana in a HOT debate over RFRA. I sat on the outskirts and watched. In addition, more than anything, the truth that I saw through all the insensitivity and injury was that each of these people has a story that they want to share. These stories color their conclusions. The ones who were pro-RFRA weren't in that camp because they only "believed it to be right" - they had experiences that confirmed their beliefs. Moreover, the ones who were outspokenly anti-RFRA had other stories - ones that would curl your hair with the injustice done.

 

Each of us has a unique perspective. A window. A lens. This is shaped in large part (although not exclusively) by our experiences. To nullify someone's personal take on truth is disturbingly close to complete disregard of the sacredness of their story. People think the way they do - are convinced of the perspective they hold - for a reason. Just because you (or I) have not drawn, the same conclusion doesn't mean that our experience is any more valid than theirs.

 

And here's the truth we often forget: By listening to someone's experience, you are not agreeing with their conclusion or the practical outworking of how that conclusion puts shoes on and walks around in their skin. You can listen to them while maintaining your own belief. You can show respect to your story and the opinions that flow from it without being unloving to your neighbor. Really, you can. Crazier things have happened.

 

So here it is. Where the rubber meets the road. I want to remind us that Jesus gave us a command, "Love one another."  Jesus didn't later add any codicils, addendums or strings attached. It was a simple statement that carries a huge message. Jesus knew that people were being de-humanized during his time in this world.

 

How about if we refrain from seeing differences as a threat and instead seek to see stories in people like we want others to see and hear our stories?  You see, we all need these stories.

 

Perhaps if we valued our brothers and sisters' lives for what they are - narratives being scripted for the whole of humankind instead of relegated to one side or another of an argument.  Then, we could unplug our ears, soften our hearts, close our mouths, and grow in compassion. Perhaps we would in the process, find God in unexpected places. God likes to show up there.