How do I start out this post? Anytime I have serious thoughts that I want to write down on this blog, I worry about how I will come across. Thoughts such as, “Am I wording this correctly,” “Will I come across the way that I want to,” and “I hope nobody takes this the wrong way” run through my mind. So, before I start, let me just say: I might get this post wrong. My words might not flow the way that I picture it going in my mind, and I might get judged. But, I have the best of intentions and I am not trying to condemn anyone at all. In fact, I am trying to do the opposite: show all of you that we need to come together. We need to pick a seat, not a side. So, without further ado, let me try my very best to get my words together and gracefully write this post.
“Pick a seat, not a side.” We see this at most wedding nowadays, but have you actually thought about what it means? To most, it usually means something about togetherness. It points out the fact that everyone in the room are friends and family. They are all welcome. The couple is choosing to forgo the traditional divisive seating arrangements and instead, they are encouraging guests to support a united atmosphere. An atmosphere where everyone is blended in and equal, no matter who they met first, what they look like, or what they believe in. Love is all that matters.
No matter how unpopular it might be to focus on love, to come together as friends and family, and to welcome even the people you disagree with most right now, I believe that it is essential.
Take a look at your history books. In the past, how many times has there been a huge divide that ended in peace….but without violence? Maybe I am missing something, but I honestly cannot think of a single example of this. Unfortunately, every huge divide (that I can think of) included violence – a war, and then finally, a coming together. Finally, peace.
I believe that most of us have the same end-goal in mind.
We want to be happy.
We want to be free.
We want to be equal.
We want to be healthy.
We want to protect our family.
But unfortunately, a lot has become mixed up along the way. And now, a lot of people are really, really angry (trust me – I am angry and concerned about a lot of things too) and a lot are lost. A lot of us do not know how to get to the end-goal peacefully. But, do you know the best way to get there? It is by coming together. By accepting other looks, other beliefs, other opinions.
My hope going forward is that we can all make an effort to show understanding, compassion, and love to ALL of our neighbors and fellow Americans.
We are in a very dark time right now and we should follow the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
I am begging all of you: start listening. start accepting. start loving. Talking with people who you might not agree with can educate you, so have discussions. Become more open minded and research both sides of every argument. Stand up for what you believe in (but do not become violent!), and most importantly, love your neighbor, no matter how much you differ from them. Love wins all.
Love and acceptance are the ONLY ways that we will become better, together. And that is what we truly need right now. Togetherness. So, pick a seat, not a side, and let’s try to create a world with a little more peace in it, when everything seems to be ripping apart at the seams.
To sign off, I understand that a lot of you might think that I am viewing a whole lot of issues with rose tinted glasses on. I know that things are not equal right now and a lot of people have no peace – for a lot of different reasons. However, keep in mind that most of us (keyword: most) have the same end-goal in mind. Accepting others just because they have a different opinion on a topic, look different than you, or act differently, will not result in more hate, but it will bring more peace. So, next time you have the opportunity to show someone a little more love and a little less hate, I urge you to do so.