When we encounter someone who is doing something that we don't appreciate or agree with, do we see them as being "difficult" or merely "different"? Our initial reaction to anyone who isn't similar to us or who doesn't behave as we would prefer is often to label them as being a "pain in the neck" or someone who annoys us. The truth is that we are probably the same to them. Would we rather like to be seen as being different to them rather than difficult? And wouldn't being seen as different spur us to find out why we are different and how we can coexist as compared to immediately choosing sides? Choosing sides typically leads to more divisiveness and not less. For us to truly "love our neighbor" we must see others as being different and not difficult and then try to find out why we are different and if those differences even matter and/or if they can be resolved or common ground found.
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