Comments on: Bridge the Divide: 4 Ways to Love Your Politically Opposite Neighbor  https://lisanotes.com/bridge-the-divide-4-ways-to-love-your-politically-opposite-neighbor/ on Life and Love Thu, 25 Jul 2024 22:40:06 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.8 By: Michele Morin https://lisanotes.com/bridge-the-divide-4-ways-to-love-your-politically-opposite-neighbor/#comment-334894 Thu, 25 Jul 2024 22:40:06 +0000 https://lisanotes.com/?p=40053#comment-334894 I have been thinking lately about applying the Golden Rule to my assumptions, and your “assume better not worse” challenges me on that point!

]]> By: Barb Hegreberg https://lisanotes.com/bridge-the-divide-4-ways-to-love-your-politically-opposite-neighbor/#comment-334887 Wed, 24 Jul 2024 12:14:39 +0000 https://lisanotes.com/?p=40053#comment-334887 In reply to Barb Hegreberg.

#4 One Word Linkup

]]> By: Barb Hegreberg https://lisanotes.com/bridge-the-divide-4-ways-to-love-your-politically-opposite-neighbor/#comment-334886 Wed, 24 Jul 2024 12:13:52 +0000 https://lisanotes.com/?p=40053#comment-334886 You post is so timely. No matter which camp we are in, we are called to love. If we take things a step further and try to understand another’s viewpoint, we can build a bridge to peace in our neighborhood, workplace, church, and beyond.

That, my friend makes God smile.

]]> By: LisaNotes https://lisanotes.com/bridge-the-divide-4-ways-to-love-your-politically-opposite-neighbor/#comment-334864 Sat, 20 Jul 2024 19:58:39 +0000 https://lisanotes.com/?p=40053#comment-334864 In reply to Shelbee on the Edge.

#4 Assume better, not worse, is something I have to keep working on. Not just for politics, but for everything. ha. It’s a wonderful relationship principle in general, yet far easier said than done. I’m trying to overcome my cynicism by focusing more on gratitude (but I can even be cynical about that, ha). But yes, I definitely hope with you, Shelbee: May goodness always prevail! I do believe it is possible!

]]> By: Shelbee on the Edge https://lisanotes.com/bridge-the-divide-4-ways-to-love-your-politically-opposite-neighbor/#comment-334854 Fri, 19 Jul 2024 10:27:26 +0000 https://lisanotes.com/?p=40053#comment-334854 A beautiful and timely, much needed message! Number 4 really resonated with me especially the part about remembering that we all basically want the same things. I have definitely lost faith in humanity as well as our government over these past few tumultuous years which has made it difficult for me to find the goodness in anything lately. That reminder is very helpful in shifting my perspective back to finding the good through all the bad. May goodness always prevail!

Shelbee

]]> By: LisaNotes https://lisanotes.com/bridge-the-divide-4-ways-to-love-your-politically-opposite-neighbor/#comment-334853 Fri, 19 Jul 2024 02:01:23 +0000 https://lisanotes.com/?p=40053#comment-334853 In reply to Martha J Orlando.

Yes, I hope surely most of us would agree that feeling compassion toward each other is vital to healing the divides in our country. I definitely and agree, and I appreciate your openness, Martha!

]]> By: LisaNotes https://lisanotes.com/bridge-the-divide-4-ways-to-love-your-politically-opposite-neighbor/#comment-334852 Fri, 19 Jul 2024 01:59:55 +0000 https://lisanotes.com/?p=40053#comment-334852 In reply to Dianna.

Staying curious about stories is something I’m really trying to lean into myself, Dianna. Sometimes it can really change the way I see a person. And when I don’t know their story, I don’t need to make up my own bad version of what it might be. Giving each other the benefit of the doubt can go a long way when we feel so divided and scared of the “other.” We’re trying anyway! 🙂

]]> By: LisaNotes https://lisanotes.com/bridge-the-divide-4-ways-to-love-your-politically-opposite-neighbor/#comment-334851 Fri, 19 Jul 2024 01:58:10 +0000 https://lisanotes.com/?p=40053#comment-334851 In reply to Linda Stoll.

You are so right, Linda: seeing each person as unique and beloved instead of a caricature of a political party is SO crucial in these crazy times. I wish we could get rid of labels but I know that won’t happen. We can, though, individually try to see less labels and more humans.

]]> By: LisaNotes https://lisanotes.com/bridge-the-divide-4-ways-to-love-your-politically-opposite-neighbor/#comment-334850 Fri, 19 Jul 2024 01:56:53 +0000 https://lisanotes.com/?p=40053#comment-334850 In reply to Jean Wise.

Thanks, Jean. Sometimes it feels much easier to just look away. And sometimes that IS the right answer, depending on context. True wisdom comes in properly discerning when to speak up and when to be quiet, right? I haven’t figured out exactly how to do that. But I’m willing to keep learning.

]]> By: LisaNotes https://lisanotes.com/bridge-the-divide-4-ways-to-love-your-politically-opposite-neighbor/#comment-334849 Fri, 19 Jul 2024 01:55:34 +0000 https://lisanotes.com/?p=40053#comment-334849 In reply to Anna.

Thank you for this thoughtful comment, Anna! I agree with your mix of hope and concern when it comes to politics. There are some days that I feel hopeful, but more often than not, I can be discouraged by the hatred and the divisions between “us” and “them.” I have to remind myself that I can’t see in other people’s hearts and understand what is motivating them; it may not be as dark as I think it is (and then again, maybe it is?). But in the end, we all want the same things: to be happy, healthy, have a meaningful life, etc. We just believe in very different paths of getting there…. It’s worth our efforts to continue trying to see the humanity in each person.

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