🛣️ TREE 574: Making space for other paths

A beautiful gift is to give people space in your heart and mind for the paths they are on. This gift is costly, possibly too costly.

Let’s say you are an atheist.

The accepted thing to say among some atheists is: Dave, like all religious people, is a backwards superstitious fool who needs to come to his rational senses and stop believing in fairy tales.

Creating space would be something like: Dave is a smart guy. He’s kind. He’s obviously growing as a person. His faith in God is a vital part of how he is becoming his greatest self, so I celebrate it.

Let’s say you are a Christian.

The accepted thing to say among some Christians is: Jennifer has rejected God. She is drifting through a selfish meaningless life with no moral compass. Her small materialist worldview leaves her with no true sense of wonder or beauty.

Creating space would be something like: Jennifer is living a meaningful life. She’s kind. She’s obviously growing as a person. Her lack of belief in God is a vital part of how she is becoming her greatest self, so I celebrate it.

If you are anything else. You can extrapolate from these two examples.

Creating space almost always lands you closer to reality than does parroting the accepted thing.

The cost though – displeasure or even censure from your peers and institution, letting go of the idea that you have a handle on ultimate reality and accepting that your truth might be more local than you thought.

The rewards though – freedom from needing to fix other people’s thinking, an improved ability to see the good around you, and maybe other will make spaces in themselves for your path.

XKCD by Randall Munroe

Tyler Joseph of Twenty-One Pilots wrote Heathens to his fellow Christians asking them back off on their attempts to convert his friends and fans. I like this Blondfire version even though it’s the cliched slowed-down indie girl cover thing.

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Grow slowly
Jeff