Grace and humility is so lacking in discourse anymore. And, yet again, the culprits are, everyone to be sure, but exceedingly those who claim that civil discourse has been displaced by angry, hateful people who want to turn this country into a socialist experiment.
Just the other day I heard Michelle Obama referred to as “Moochelle” because of her apparent love of telling others how to eat but her own fondness for greasy, fatty foods. If one wants to point out hypocrisy with our leaders (and their spouses)….fine, but why must you lower yourself to this childish level?
I heard, from other source, President Obama described as having “just big ears”. What possible explanation could provide justification for this 4th grade insult?
These are the same comments that fall into the line of thinking that claim those who side with Obama, or question our presence in Iraq, or whatever are America hating, communist loving socialists (or something like that….there are so many words flung around it seems to be a competition of who can string together the longest phrase of inflammatory insults).
All this proves is that no love for discourse or differing opinions is wanted (but isn’t allowing diversity truly an American thing?). It proves that either conversation is not welcomed or conversation cannot truly happen because those phrases are said simply to shut down conversation (perhaps because the person using them has no real arguments to maintain a conversation with). It proves that if you still live in a mentality where if you can simply cut down your opponent with elementary/junior high humor….you win.
For me….if that is the type of conversation people want to purse (name calling, etc)….then, okay, you win.
I would rather speak in hushed tones of grace and humility. Not that I do this at all times, for i don’t. I don’t do it as much as I should, or as much as I would like. Grace and humility isn’t not having an opinion (even a strong one). It’s not about weakly backing down from a “tense conversation”. But it is about listening. It’s about loving. It’s about cutting through all of our desires to be right and proving that…or at least, proving the other person wrong. It is speaking what we believe but speaking that with a sense that there is so much more to learn and know. It is speaking with a sense that maybe, just maybe, our opinions could be tweaked by the other, now or later. It is speaking to truly know the thoughts of those we are speaking with.
Conversations in hushed tones of grace and humility will never be loud or self-seeking but be quiet redemptive moments that speak for truth in ways in which “the other” will know that even if there is disagreement there is love and respect. Truth isn’t diminished with grace and humility….truth is put on display through that grace and humility. It is funny how truth tends to be heard more in “hushed tones of grace and humility” rather that shouted and yelled out.
