What might be possible if…?
That’s a good question.
More accurately, it’s a good question starter. As a professional certified coach, I know that the best questions cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.”
Questions that can be answered that way—what we refer to as close-ended—don’t require deep thinking, reflection on reality, or imagining possibilities.
In fact, close-ended questions often are not really questions. They are ways of affirming the opinion or supporting the agenda of the questioner.
“Do you think gasoline is too expensive right now?”
“Do you think property taxes have gotten out of control?”
Those questions—by their very nature—cut off the possibility of dialogue and learning.
Conversely, open-ended questions invite something that we so often miss: Conversation.
Let me start over with my initial question starter.
What might be possible if we saw every hungry person as a person who is hungry?
What might be possible if saw every homeless person as a person who is homeless?
What might be possible if we saw every politician as a person who has political aspirations?
What might be possible if we saw every drug addict or alcoholic as a person with a substance abuse problem?
I could completely fill out the rest of my space today with other examples, but the bottom line is how we see persons with whom we have differences.
What might be possible if we saw each one—first and foremost—as a person?
And if we are persons of faith, what might be possible if we saw every person as a person created in the image of God?
That’s not a new or novel concept, but sometimes we need a reminder.
This morning I heard a Muslim Imam from Sudan tell his own story of a personal awakening when coming to the United States. His father was hospitalized with a serious illness and had three different physicians working together on his care.
One of the physicians was Muslim, one was Jewish, and the third was Christian.
Here’s what he said this morning: “If three doctors of three different faiths can work together to heal a man, could not three religious leaders of three different faiths work together to heal humanity?”
Wow!
Let that sink in for a minute.
And just so you don’t think I’m saying that all faiths are the same, let me be clear. I do not.
But what might be possible (there’s that question starter again) if faiths could maintain their unique and deeply held beliefs, worship in their own unique and special ways, and still work together to make the world a better place through addressing common problems like hunger, religious freedom, human trafficking, racism, and terrorism?
In the past two days I’ve heard Muslim, Jewish, and Evangelical Christian leaders affirm that it is not simply possible; it is necessary.
What might be possible if we decided to listen and learn with humility and compassion?
What might be possible if we decided to love our neighbors even if they are not like us?
That, my friend, would be amazing.
