| It's a world of diversity. So diverse that of all the | | | | Across all the religions and spiritual beliefs, there are |
| billions of people in this world, not any of us are the | | | | similarities we all enjoy. Many of these are easy to |
| same. Not one person is exactly like another. That's | | | | recognize without diving deep into doctrine. All |
| the beautiful thing about our world. | | | | religions and spiritual beliefs embrace that it is wrong |
| But, it is getting scarier and scarier with each new | | | | to murder others. We also have at our core of |
| day that approaches and each new war that erupts. | | | | beliefs that we do not steal from others and we do |
| It seems that we can't seem to get along because | | | | not lie to each other. These are just a few of the |
| of our differences. I admit that some differences are | | | | values that we all share. |
| intolerable. People who consciously commit crimes | | | | Even a person who does not follow a religion or have |
| cannot be tolerated. People who intend to hurt | | | | a spiritual belief is embedded with these same core |
| others cannot be tolerated. People with differences | | | | values. Community raises us up to at least have |
| such as these are not the kind of differences I am | | | | respect for each other and that would be where |
| referring. | | | | most of these core values come. A person who has |
| What I am talking about are the various people of | | | | never killed before finds it hard to do when |
| different religions, cultures, belief systems, traditions | | | | encountered with that scenario. That is because |
| and the like. Our differences are beautiful and I have | | | | embedded deep down is a set of laws that it takes |
| no idea why we can't simply embrace our differences | | | | a great deal of energy or a moment of lapse to |
| rather than let our differences bother us. | | | | break. |
| It is in our human nature to be apprehensive. When | | | | So with these core values in place, why can't we |
| you see someone with a drastically different hairdo | | | | seem to get along with other people of other |
| and clothing style than yours, you might find yourself | | | | cultures? It is an astounding question. There are so |
| a little shocked. That shock tends to turn into worry | | | | many people who want to be different, but are put |
| because it is in the human nature to question those | | | | off by people who are different. There are quite a |
| differences we have among ourselves. If a person is | | | | few people in this world who want to conform and |
| different in one way, are they different in other | | | | are closed to the options in this world that could |
| ways? | | | | make their lives more fulfilling. |
| That's being human. It starts at the surface with a | | | | The more we learn about those around us, the more |
| simple hairdo and boils down to the deepest thoughts | | | | comfortable we get in our world. You will find that |
| of whether or not they share our values. It's | | | | our differences are a beautiful thing to embrace. You |
| important that we feel safe around people who are | | | | will also find that there are more similarities than you |
| drastically different than ourselves. So, we need to | | | | think. |
| know if they share our values. | | | | |