Tag: Politics

Paying Attention

Today’s a new day! Since the inauguration of the current administration, many people are either alarmed or are at least paying attention at what has transpired.

We wonder how putting flawed inexperienced people in charge of our government agencies will make our lives better. We see one of the main issues that got him elected — inflation — take a back seat to revenge and retribution. We see the destruction of the rule of law and allowing a unelected out of control billionaire actually run the country.

One of my biggest fears is the loss of checks and balances in a president who appears to have no ethical compass. I wonder what our deceased men and women of the military, who gave their lives fighting for our freedom would think of our current gutless Congress who are willing to throw out our democracy and cower in fear of being primaried from our billionaire overlords.

I think the American people need to hold these compromised representatives accountable for the sake of this generation and generations to come. Thanks for listening. ~OC

0

Project 2025…The Truth

Today’s a new day! For those that will question me on this post, did you read it? I did. Every page. This isn’t some liberal propaganda. This was written and produced by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Everything we see the current administration doing is from this playbook. This playbook is not in the best interest for all Americans. Of course you would know that if you actually read the book, but many will choose not to because of their political and religious beliefs. ~OC

0

Just Imagine

Good Morning ! Here is another “Lost Writings from OC” from 2018. I believe it still has some meaning in 2025.

Today’s a new day! Indulge me for just a moment. If you were God and you were planning on coming to earth. What kind of role would you take on in society?

Would you be a wealthy CEO?

A powerful politician?

A celebrity with social media influence?

Or would you choose to become a poor child, on the run from violence and oppression?

I believe there is something profoundly significant about the fact that God’s own son walked this earth as an undocumented child refugee.

This was no accident.

It was part of the divine plan all along. Jesus could have been born and lived as a prince, a wealthy landowner or the Chief Priest. But instead He chose to become a refugee – forever linking himself with the most vulnerable people on earth:

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. ~Matthew 2: 13-15

So, God’s heart is very much for the refugee. His own Son chose to become a refugee. To the point where Jesus proclaimed that, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me in.”

Whatever you do for refugees you do for Him.

Your posture towards the “caravan” of refugees is your heart’s posture towards Jesus.

God even calls them his “brothers” as a reminder that those who suffer should be considered as family members that you woud invite over for Thanksgiving or a BBQ (Matthew 25:40).

There are few themes repeated in Scripture more than the call to care for the orphan, the widow and the alien (or foreigner):

“So you, too, must show love to FOREIGNERS, for you yourselves were once FOREIGNERS in the land of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:19

“Cursed is he who distorts the justice due a FOREIGNER, orphan, and widow. And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’“ Deuteronomy 27:19

“Then I will draw near to you for judgment…against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the FOREIGNER and do not fear Me,” says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:5

So, how then should you and I respond, practically speaking, to what seems like an overwhelming refugee crisis?

There are four actions, I think, that would be Biblical, Christ-like responses to the humanitarian crisis that is currently unfolding. These are the ways I would want folks to respond if my own child or spouse were caught up in this refugee crisis:

SPIRITUALLY:

We must not lose hope.  We must not despair.  We must continue to to have Hope, because our world is not a closed system. God continues to infuse our world with hope, and Divine Love seeps through the cracks in our broken world.  Let’s continue to pray together for peace, for provision.  Let’s continue to petition and plead for, “On earth as it is in heaven….where there is no more pain or death or crying, and every tear is wiped away.”

1. Make them feel safe.

As refugees, they were forced to flee their country, leaving everything behind and running for safety with just the clothes on their backs. They’ve experienced much trauma. We should do whatever we can to make them feel welcome and safe.

2. Offer hospitality.

Perhaps the best thing you can do for refugees is to open your home to them. You can have them over for meals, or game night. You can invite them to social and family events so they can experience American culture at a Fourth of July cookout, a Thanksgiving dinner, or an Easter play.

3. Ask good questions.

When spending time with our new friends, we’ll have opportunities to ask them questions about their culture. We should be genuinely interested in them and their families. We can ask about their holidays and traditions, the things they do or don’t do, and why or why not. We might even try to learn some words in their language. Asking good questions shows them we care.

Christians should understand what it means to have someone care for you when you’re a stranger and foreigner. It’s what Jesus did for us.

4. Respect Over Fear

As we become friends with refugees, it’s imperative that we show love and respect. Not Fear.

Has Jesus not called us to love our neighbors, no matter the cost?

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18)

Yes, this can be a difficult calling. Only love can overcome fear. And that is why I appeal to you on the basis of relationship and familial ties. What if that refugee child were your own flesh and blood? What if they were your own son or daughter? What mountain would you not climb? What politician would you not lobby? What price would you not pay to see them brought to safety.

Only the kind of love we usually reserve for family can overcome the fear and selfishness that teaches us to close our doors and turn away from the refugees plight. But Jesus calls us to a different way, the way of peace, radical welcome and laying down our lives for others.

Will you allow that love to compel you towards action today?

I pray you will take time to reflect on this post. How would God want you to treat the vulnerable? How can God use you during this crisis? ~OC

0

Immigration and the Christian Response

Good Morning! More from the “Lost Writings of OC.” I originally wrote this back in 2017, but I feel it’s still relevant in 2025.

I do not know what it’s like to be a refugee. I have never had to flee America out of fear for my life because bombs or beheadings were a very real threat. I have never had to resettle in a foreign land and struggle to assimilate to an alien or hostile culture. I also do not know what it’s like to lose a loved one to an act of terrorism.

I do believe our political leaders must strive to protect innocent lives both by thwarting the plots of terrorists and by creating refuges for people trying to escape their reach. These are not mutually exclusive endeavors.

But how should the Christian Church and Community respond to the immigration crisis in America?

I believe the Christians community should have a special appreciation for the plight of the refugee. Our spiritual heritage is full of refugees: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, Daniel and Jesus were all displaced from their homeland at some point. The earliest Christians in Jerusalem faced persecution that led them to scatter. Throughout the Bible the people of God are described as being exiles, strangers, sojourners, aliens, citizens of a heavenly home. A certain sense of homelessness is part of the cost of discipleship.

The way of Jesus Christ is not closing doors to asylum-seeking refugees or building walls to keep out foreigners. The way of Jesus Christ is not about forsaking the well-being of others in order to protect one’s own livelihood. The way of Jesus Christ is the cross. It is the way of sacrificing one’s own well-being in the name of Iove, however uncomfortable or risky or countercultural that may be.

This is not to say we should be reckless or naive or go looking for martyrdom. Christ warned his disciples not to be unrealistic about their safety in the world; they would be like sheep among wolves, and therefore should be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Our compassion should be tempered by prudence and common sense.

Think about the immigration issue in terms of our witness in the world. The way we Christians respond to refugees presents a unique opportunity to show, in vivid relief, the sort of God we serve.

Ask yourself which reflects the character of Christ more: Refusing to take in a refugee because we are concerned at the possibility that we could be harmed by such charity; or taking in a refugee out of sacrificial love that says “you are welcome at my table even if it costs me something.” Simply because you are a human and bear the image of God, I value your life, show you hospitality, welcome you at my table, even if you are a potentially dangerous stranger.

I think it’s important that Christians push back against the fickle fear and political pendulum that turns the refugee into a concept rather than an image-of-God-bearing human being. Refugees are real people with real hopes and fears, just like you and I. In many cases they are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The refugees of our world are beloved of God and should be by Christians too. We need to know them, help them, hear their stories. We can learn from them. Let’s not close our borders and our hearts to them out of fear or ignorance. Let’s love them as Jesus loves us: mercifully, generously and sacrificially.

I know this post will be met with various opinions and probably some criticism, but I felt the need to share what’s on my heart. I pray you will respect that these are my thoughts and opinions. Blessings. ~OC

0

Be Your Own Best Healthcare Advocate

Today’s a new day! I have been what my bride calls a “Professional Patient” for almost twenty-three years now. During this journey, I have encountered health professionals who appeared to be more concerned about egos and status than they did my well-being. For some medical providers, I was just a name on a file who happened to have very good health insurance coverage. They knew more than me because they had the title of Doctor attached to their name. Being so foreign to how the world of healthcare worked, Laura and I just went along with whatever the doctors or medical professionals directed us to do. They’re the professionals. They know what’s best for me. Right? In the famous words of Lee Corso from GameDay on ESPN, “Not so fast my friend.”

As Laura and I began to navigate this new world called the healthcare system, we found out that the most important voices were our own. If we did not stand up for my medical needs, who else would? That’s when we realized we needed to become not only our own healthcare advocates, but we needed to help other patients walking through their own crazy beautiful health journey. We recognized being a “Professional Patient” was actually a full time job.

Over the years, we have had to privately and sometimes publicly voiced some of my medical concerns. Which is not naturally part of my DNA. Or so I thought. But this is my life and my health we are talking about. As Laura and I have weaved our way through the world of health challenges, here are some of the most important pieces of advice I believe I can offer for those walking through their own health journey.

* Do not wait to speak up and share your thoughts and concerns. You know your body better than anybody else. If something doesn’t feel right or sound right speak up. If your medical team truly cares for you they will welcome this dialogue.

*Do not be afraid to get a second or third opinion. This is your life. We only get one.

*Do not be afraid to change doctors or hospitals if needed. Find a medical team that you truly feel has your best interest at heart.

*Have a great support system that can speak up on your behalf when you are unable to.

*Never stop learning about new treatments and medications that pertain to your health issue. Do not hesitate to share that information with your medical team. Once again, if your medical team cares for your well-being they will welcome those conversations.

*Take the time if your health allows, to help someone else navigate through this overwhelming healthcare system .

*Remember, it’s called practicing medicine for a reason. Your doctor and medical staff are human. Mistakes can happen. Allow those to be a teaching moment for all parties involved. Be kind and respectful, but firm.

*Be patient with yourself and your medical team. The healthcare system can be messy, stressful and complicated. Do not be afraid to show a little grace to yourself and others.

I really hope this helps someone navigating through a maze called the healthcare system. Be Your Own Best Healthcare Advocate. ~OC

0

My Tribute to President Carter

Today’s a new day! The world has lost a giant in President Jimmy Carter, the man whose impact endured far beyond his presidency. To call him a statesman is accurate but insufficient; he was a humanitarian, a leader of conscience, and a model of humility. I had the profound honor of sitting in on President Carter teaching Sunday School Class back in 2019. One of the highlights of my life. From that visit, I developed a beautiful and life changing relationship with the people of Plains, Georgia. The hometown of President and Mrs. Carter.

President Carter’s long and inspiring life reminds us that our lives are about impact, not image. It’s about making choices that prioritize others over self. From the peanut farms of Plains, Georgia to the corridors of the White House and places around the world, his journey was always one of service.

As we remember President Jimmy Carter, let us carry forward his legacy of humility and purpose. His life was a testament to the idea that, as human beings we are stewards of something greater than ourselves.

President Carter once said,

“My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have, to try to make a difference.”

Thank you, President James Earl Carter Jr, for showing us what leadership, humanity, and faith in action truly means. Your amazing legacy will continue to inspire the world. Rest in peace Mr. President. ~OC

0

Division

Today’s a new day! Division has always been a part of society, but I would say that in the last 10-15 years we have seen division grow to new heights. It seems to be hitting us on every level; national, regional, and individual. It has the potential to destroy what is precious to us if we yield to it. Division can separate us from those we love the most; it can take down sporting teams, companies and nations if left unchecked. The following is a few things I have tried to apply in my own life over the years to help overcome division. Not always successfully, but still striving for.

1). My enemy is the Enemy, not you. In Ephesians 6:12 we read the following words, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” The enemy doesn’t really care who you’re divided against, as long as there’s division. Why would the enemy want to stir up division? Because “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” The enemy’s objective is to lie, steal and destroy, and division is an effective way to accomplish all three.

2). Division will always result in disconnection and disconnect opens the door to disunity. I believe connecting with others is why we’re here. Each of us are hardwired to connect with others, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it there is suffering. When we experience division between ourselves and another person or group, a good question to ask is, “What connection does the enemy want to steal from me?”

3). It is possible to stand up for a worthy cause, but do it with an incorrect attitude. When we see ourselves or others fighting for truth, justice, or anything good, but recognize wrong attitudes, it can be extremely confusing. A good question to ask ourselves when we find ourselves in the midst of disunity is: Am I dealing with pride? Is my perspective of those I feel divided against tainted with judgments rooted in criticism, self-righteousness or pride? Am I motivated by love, or by fear? In my experience with division, I have found that one “side” is rarely 100% right and the other 100% wrong. I have found people on different sides of an issue, often have a mix of right and wrong attitudes. I have found it helpful to ask God to reveal my own heart to me. David did this when he prayed, “Who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.(Psalm 19:12)

4). Rejection and division often work hand in hand. This is where it is wise to remember your history with people. Choose to remember the times that they have been there for you during the storms of life. Ask yourself: “Is this rejection I’m feeling from this person or group a long-standing pattern? Or is this something new?” The enemy would love to steal the harvest of our lives…the years of faithful friendship we have had with one another. Let’s have the courage to press in and fight for the precious relationships that we’ve invested years in cultivating. Be willing to have the tough conversations. Even if we walk away with a “agree to disagree understanding.”

5). We also must walk through tough situations with the mindset of “Forgiveness is always on the table if we are to walk in unity and freedom.

6). When we pray for those we disagree with, our heart and perspective will often change. Praying to be unified in truth and in love can be a very strategic spiritual weapon against the evil one.

7). Venting or gossiping to others who are not part of the problem or the solution can bring anger, misunderstandings and division. Here’s the bottom line, none of us win when division is given the freedom to rule the day.

8). We have to be willing to look past our differences and agree to come to the table and talk about the things we have in common. Those conversations can lead to the harder conversations. Are you willing to sit at the table with those you disagree with?

I hope this blog post helps you in working with those you might disagree with. Let’s decide to live with the following in our hearts “Unity Over Self.” ~OC

0

Moving Forward….

Today’s a new day! We are a few days removed from the 2024 election. So as Christians, how should we handle what was a contentious political season moving forward? Here are three things I believe as Christian we should do moving forward:

1). Be Careful With Your Communications: Guard your words and actions. Including what is shared on social media. (Check out Galatians 5:26, Job 31:29-30, Romans 12:15, Ephesians 4:3). We need to ask ourselves the following question before speaking or posting something on social media. Are our words or post bringing a sense of unity or disunity? Our words and post should follow the words found in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

2). As Christians We Must Put Our Faith In God: This should not be just a tired old cliché. As Christians we must remember to never put our hope or trust in a political party or candidate. (Check out Psalm 146:3-5, Jeremiah 17:5-7, Psalm 118:8-9, Isaiah 2:22). We need to trust God during these moments because we know who He is. God is unchanging as Malachi 3:6 reminds us, “For I the LORD do not change;utherefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”

3). Live With A Eternal Perspective: My Dear Brothers and Sisters, we must always live our lives with an eternal perspective. Remember we are just passing through. This world whether you’re a Democrat, Republican or Independent is not our home. Living with that mindset gives us a proper view of what is happening around us in this broken world. (Check out Philippians 3:20-21, Colossians 3:1-2, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Romans 8:18).

Please know, I am not wearing a pair of rose colored glasses. I realize the United States and the world are dealing with some major issues. Sadly, we live in a divided and broken world. I realize there are days we all just want to stay under the covers in our comfortable and safe beds. But God did not call us to hide under our covers. No, He called us to be lights in a dark and lost world. We need to pray for our political leaders as hard as that might be to do (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Pray that God would guide their hearts, words, steps and actions. We must also pray that God would give each of us His strength, courage, wisdom and boldness to stand up for what’s right. That we would not conform to the ways of this world (Romans 12:2). I may not be wearing rose colored glasses, but I will choose to put on my love glasses as I venture out into the world or jump on social media. Stay grounded. Stay focused. Let your light shine. ~OC

0

Paying the Price

Today’s a new day! It started in 2016 and continued through the 2024 election. Many churches and many in the Christian community decided political power was more important than the Gospel. I believe the Church and Christian community will pay the price for these decision for many years to come.

Over the last decade, we have seen church attendance continue to decline. I believe one of the reasons for this is because the Church and many in the Christian community have abandoned the gospel for political power.

Here are just a few reasons I came up with this conclusion.

1). No political leader or political party is immune from the fallenness of humanity. One party or president may do a better job than another, but at the end of the day, life remains pretty much as it has through the course of human history, and the human heart is still “deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9).

The gospel tells us that we are in a helpless state and that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But in His great mercy, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

2). So many Christians see the Republicans Party as “the power of God that brings salvation,” which is only true of the gospel itself (Romans 1:16). So many Christians believe if their candidate wins, then he will fix all of the problems in society and bring prosperity, safety, and peace to all. That’s not going to happen, and that’s not what government was designed to do. No political candidate or party has the power to bring everlasting change.

On the other hand, the gospel is powerful enough to take dead men and make them alive “because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).

3). So many Christians forget which kingdom demands our total allegiance. While we are called to obey our governmental authorities, our ultimate allegiance does not belong to a political leader, a party, or even a nation. Jesus said in John 18 that His kingdom is “not of this world.” The kingdom of God is greater than any earthly kingdom, and it operates on a completely different value system. The kingdoms of earth say, “Blessed are the rich and powerful”; the kingdom of heaven says, “Blessed are you who are poor” (Luke 6:20).

4). So many Christians allow their heavenly citizenship to be eclipsed by their earthly citizenship. As Christian’s, when we allow this to happen, we can find ourselves sucked into the political vortex and filled with anger, vitriol, hatred for the other side. Some Christian’s have become consumed with what happens here and now and forget that they’re only on earth for a short time. This is not the way of Christ. The gospel says that we are but “sojourners and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11) and that “our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

5). We focus on the temporal instead of the eternal. Politics, campaigns, and cultural issues are all significant parts of our lives on earth, but they won’t last forever. Scripture reminds us that life is but a vapor, “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). The gospel, however, will be relevant for all of eternity. So we must not lose sight of what matters the most—namely, our relationship with Christ and telling others about Him.

6). We underestimate the sovereignty of the God who raises up kings and brings them down (Daniel 2:21). We can be tempted to think that “we the people” determine the fate of the nation when we go to the ballot box. Yet God is ultimately the one who calls our leaders and grants them authority to govern. So should we even bother to vote? By all means, yes, for the same reason we pray even though God has marked out the future. There is great mystery and tension in between the sovereignty of God and the moral responsibility of man. But Scripture is clear that God is the one who “makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and disperses them” (Job 12:23).

7). Over the last decade, so many Christian’s decided to set aside humility and love, and pick up pride and anger. They hold on so tightly to their own views on a candidate or an issue that they lash out against those who see things differently. Believe it or not, it is possible to disagree with someone without hating them. The gospel calls us to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). Since we are in Jesus’ kingdom, we need to refrain from vitriolic rhetoric and dialogue, “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).

8). So many Christian’s view their candidate as a messiah. Most followers of Christ would not actually believe that a presidential hopeful is the Messiah, but it sure has looked that way over the last decade. So many Christians act as though they’r electing someone who will lead America into an age of glory and righteousness. But no mere human could ever attain such goals.

The gospel says that the true Messiah has already come. “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true by being in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

And it says that He is coming again. “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10).

9). So many Christians forget who the ruler of this present darkness is. If it seems like politics can be filled with lies and vitriol, there is a reason for that. Jesus refers to Satan as the “prince of this world” (John 14:30), and he is a master of division and deception. There is actually “no truth in him,” Jesus says, “for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). No wonder social media is filled with political rhetoric that slanders and defames.

The Scriptures tell us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Christians must be careful not to partake in such divisive and vicious assaults, for in so doing, we employ the worldly tactics of our enemy.

10). So many Christians want a “fixer” rather than a Redeemer. They look to political leaders to provide perfect solutions for the problems of the day, but even the most effective politician can only put Band-Aids on our societal wounds. A fixer provides temporary solutions to temporary issues. A redeemer, on the other hand, lays down his very life to bring complete restoration. Jesus did not come to “fix” us; rather, He “gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own” (Titus 2:14). Because of this great redemption, “you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:18).

At the end of the day, my greatest concern is not so much whom you vote for and support, but rather that you keep a proper perspective on the purpose and limits of politics, and the power and glory of the gospel. Do not abandon the gospel for politics. Rather, let us be humble and loving toward others, even those with whom we adamantly disagree, because “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). We must not allow temporal struggles to distract us from our eternal joy, “so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). We must trust in the sovereign power and will of Almighty God, remembering that “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Dear Christian , I encourage you to not exchange the infinite beauty of the gospel for temporary political fixes. If you find yourself placing more hope in politics than in the gospel, know that you will find no rest there. Instead, regardless of the outcome of this and future elections, rest in the promise and hope that the gospel brings. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). ~OC

0

Love Through Our Differences

Today’s a new day! Well, it’s finally here. After months of political ads, speeches, debates and political rallies, it’s finally Election Day. In a few hours, or possibly a few weeks we will have a new president. But sadly, this election and the last few elections have divided America. Everyone has their opinions and sometimes are not open to other points of view.

In our current political climate, it seems almost impossible for anyone to cross party aisles. And if our elected officials cannot bring themselves to be open-minded to opposing views, what hope is there for the rest of us?  Navigating a relationship with a family member or friend who has different political views than you do isn’t easy. But it can be done. It will take some hard work and open minds, but we can walk away from the 2024 election still loving our family and friends. Here are a few steps we can take to make sure our relationships are intact after today’s vote.

Be Curious: Ask questions. Take the time to find out about why someone thinks the way they do and share your experiences. We do not need to be condescending when sharing our political points of view. Do not make people feel stupid if they have questions. Instead, encourage them to continue asking questions. This is how we get to know each other. Our differences should be something we celebrate. Not demonize.

Listen: It’s easy to tell yourself you are open-minded. But when your family member or friend has an entirely different political viewpoint you may find yourself wanting to defend your beliefs instead of listening to theirs. It’s important to resist that impulse. If you’re taking the time to sit down and discuss a certain topic, both of you need to be really present in the conversation. Distractions should be kept to a minimum as you engage in conversation.

So how do you and your loved ones actively listen to each other? One way to do this is by reiterating the point you just heard them make by saying “This is what I heard you say, am I correct?”. This allows your family member/friend to confirm this or correct themselves if it didn’t come across in the way they hoped it would. In return, your family/friend should offer you the same courtesy. The whole point of a discussion is to see how someone arrived at their opinion; Arguing over why their opinion is wrong is not.

Monitor Your Reaction: When you are having a spirited conversation about political differences that you know both you and your family/friend are passionate about, there are ways to ensure that the discussion will not get heated. Before jumping in, take some time to organize your thoughts. By allowing yourself to take a breath you lessen the risk of saying something angry and disrespectful. If there is a point when voices are being raised or volatility is starting to take over, that’s your cue to take a timeout and return to the discussion when you are both level-headed enough to continue. Even a simple “Hey, this is important and I want to talk about it, but I’m feeling pretty upset right now. Maybe we can talk tomorrow?” can make a huge difference. 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: It’s more than a Aretha Franklin song. There is nothing wrong with questioning your beliefs. Although, to be honest, it can be terrifying when it happens.

We allow ourselves to be open to new ideas when we question what we originally thought we knew. Though, keep in mind, your family/friend should never force their beliefs on you.  A supportive family member or friend would never try to influence your opinions. Instead, they would tell you this is how they see an issue and that how you process that information is up to you.

There you go. Not every relationship can survive political differences. Sadly, that’s just part of life. However, if you find yourself in a conversation with a family member or friend with different political beliefs or opinions than you, open and honest communication is going to be more important than ever. Do not be afraid to talk to each other about your opinions and ask questions if you want to know more. The key is to always be respectful of each other’s thoughts and feelings. After all, love has no political affiliations. ~OC

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑