Read and Repost

How many times have you read a quote and almost immediately reposted it? You’re scrolling along and, B A M, someone else’s words hit you just right in the soul. You’ve gotta repost it as soon as possible. You can’t keep this wisdom from the rest of the world (or, at least your followers) any longer.

We are believing truths based on shareable quotes. It’s easier for us to read something that agrees with us or re-enforces what we are feeling instead of pressing in and hearing and seeing others whose opinions and beliefs differ from our own. We are no longer digging deeper. We struggle to listen to anything other than what completes our own thoughts. We think we know, but we have no idea.

This world, our world, our culture right now is so beautifully messy. It feels volatile out there, but out there is where I thrive. It is in this mess, the tension, that I find my best self. It is when I open up my view from the peep whole to seeing the whole street view that I find more grace and love and tenderness, not less.

Many of us are on the defense using pull-quotes to support our cause because we are scared. We fear that the life we once knew is going extinct. What if I told you that is a good thing? How can I convince you that all this turmoil and plight and seemingly scary things are actually really good for all of us?

We don’t want to hear beyond the quote because that may require us to change. Change is scary and hard. It means that I might have to sacrifice some comforts. And man, I like to be comfortable. I’m pretty sure you do, too. What I am finding is that our quotes are leading to an epic misunderstanding. We are slinging words at each other instead of listening to the truths and vulnerabilities of people’s hearts.

I have a neighbor who seems to not like me. One day, the couple stopped talking to me. I mean, they absolutely do not acknowledge me going out of their way to busy themselves when I wave hello as they pass. (Yes, I have tried and prayed for an opportunity to talk with them to no avail) I joke about the epic story they’ve concocted about me. I am SO curious about the sketchy things I did to be on the receiving end of such behavior. I was talking to a friend about my situation and I came to the conclusion that whatever it is they think I have done is probably some crazy misunderstanding. If only they would come to me and chat to clear the air and allow space for apologies and change (if the situation merits either), this whole mess would be gone and their kids could once again play with mine. It seems so much harder to purposefully avoid someone instead of stepping into the momentary discomfort to clear the air.

I believe this is so many of us right now: we think we know what others think/feel/believe. We think we understand that concept, theory, religious ideology, or political leaning, but we have no idea. All we have are a bunch of assumptions based on pretty quotes pulled from Instagram, Fox News, or CNN.

We are better than this. We are kinder than this. We believe in each other more than this. Our world deserves more than a culture whose understanding is based on a bunch of quotes. So, the next time you see that quote that makes you say, “YES!” ask yourself why you believe those words on the screen. Why do they make you feel the way you do? What do those words really mean? To you? To someone who may not have the same viewpoint. Then do this for the quotes that rub you the wrong way. Why do they make you feel like that? Do you really understand what the author is trying to say?

Life is more than a re-postable quote. Our relationships with one another, whether we know each other intimately or not, matter deeper than a quote that will get my point across and stick it to those who disagree. Let’s dig deeper than a pull quote and start healing ourselves one acknowledged misunderstanding at a time.

Love you.

Mean it.

~Meg