Inside Job

This past week I participated in a community gathering we called “Can We Talk”? It was the second in a series to bring people together to discuss violence and its effects on us individually and on society. Over forty people came together at GCC to listen to panel member’s talk about, in this case, gun violence. Now there were people with strong opinions regarding the limitation of gun ownership. There were others that talked about their experience in combat and how their lives had been changed forever. Others spoke about the use of guns for hunting and target shooting. All who spoke were passionate about their understanding of the topic and what should be done or not done to try and remedy the problem of gun violence. The moderator of the discussion, Dr. Barry Gan, was skillful in leading the group through the process and facilitated meaningful dialogue between participants. Now I can’t say anyone’s minds were changed, but that’s not what it was about. I saw people who all had good reasons for their positions, all had their own truth about the issues, but they were given an opportunity to express their views and to listen to others who disagreed with them. I came away from the gathering with an understanding that all of us are abhorred by the killing that occurs every day in this world; and that, if given the chance, people can come together in a meaningful way and listen to each other. The thing that impressed me the most was the fact that almost all of us agreed we wanted to come together again to continue the conversation. That’s where it starts. Meaningful discussion, listening, talking – most of life is about relationships. It’s about outside influences on our inside thoughts that leads to eventual change in behavior. As I looked around the room It dawned on me that I knew many of those in attendance. Some since childhood, other’s professionally and those who have become good friends over the years. We have all shared moments of our lives; we have all spent some of our precious time with one another; without knowing it we have helped share the journey together in one way or another. That to me is the everyday gift we are given. Together for whatever reason, we all have a part to play in sharing the path we take through life. It’s the human understanding that we all feel the same emotions, we are not alone; and that the energy that is God inside us can be used to help others and ourselves. It’s an understanding I have come to, no matter who the person is, where they come from, why they do what they do. I believe that God lives in all of us and that we can tap into this energy when we want to. It’s why I try to respect everyone’s tradition, beliefs, thoughts and actions. If I didn’t truly believe this and let it guide my behavior, I would have no legitimate right to call myself a follower of the “Prince of Peace.” I don’t know about you, but I’m not the same person I was as a child, as a young man, as I was even 10 years ago. I like to think my beliefs, understandings, actions have progressed for the better, but that doesn’t mean my way is the same as yours. It doesn’t mean my truth and your truth match. What it means to me is that we are all on this journey together, that we all need to learn from each other, to open our hearts and minds, in other words it’s an inside job.