For the last few years, everyone has been focusing on the things that make us different. But in the past week I’ve had reason to think about how we’re more similar than we think. I believe our capacity to see past our differences is still there, if you look past the needlessly politicized posts and Karen videos that are so easily at our fingertips these days. 

Last week I met up with Big Lake resident Kevin Staples. Kevin takes two months each year to go on crazy adventures on his motorcycle. This year, his journey took him through Russia. Does this make him crazy? Maybe a little! But he told me that the reception he, an American man, received there was completely unexpected. The Russian people he encountered were warm and inviting. Soldiers stopped to take pictures with him. A shopkeeper gave Kevin his own lunch when he stopped to find food. Who’d have thought the people of a country which has been at odds with America for so long would treat an American so kindly?

This past weekend, my husband took a short trip down to Houston, MN, to participate in their parade. He’s a member of the Minnesota Four Wheel Drive Association (MN4WDA), and was there representing his group. The MN4WDA, in partnership with the DNR, is constructing an offroading trail down there. My husband expected a hostile reception, as some city council members voiced that they don’t want the trail to be made, citing (unfounded) concerns that use of the trail will lead to lots of noise and traffic. Instead, he found a community which was unaware of the trail or the council’s concerns. Some were even unaware of what the offroading hobby was about. My husband got the opportunity to answer real questions from curious people instead of having to defend his group.

I was chatting with some friends of mine, and someone mentioned that it was strange, in an era of instant communication, that we should get along so poorly, but I think we all have a tendency of finding our own echo chambers, the communities where our ideas won’t be challenged. Personally, I’m going to try being more positive. I’m going to commit to following Jesus’ example by loving people, and looking at our differences with curiosity instead of hate. I know our wonderful readers are already working to do the same!