a drop of water

Stuff happens.  People and communities divide over hurt, miscommunication and differences, forming mountains that separate them, limit their perspective, and pigeonhole their identities.  Human reconciliation is a trajectory where the opposing sides are traversing that mountain.  Human reconciliation is not ignoring the mountain’s existence.  That would be devaluing and insulting to the underlying issues.  Nor is reconciliation magically making the mountain disappear (only divine reconciliation has the power and resources for that).  Traversing the mountain takes energy and is costly, but it transforms the mountain’s identity and power as a separator into a common vista from which both sides can gain deeper understanding of themselves and each other.

Ideally, mountain traversing is a mutual effort from both sides; each side will have a unique understanding and ability to traverse their own side of the mountain.  Both sides have the opportunity to be a part of the process.  Both sides also have the ability to destroy the process.  Often, one side will have the honor of intentionally sustaining the cause and enabling the other side to join the effort.  This is not easy.  Sometimes one side will have traversed the mountain and reached the other side, only to find a closed gate that can only be opened from the inside.  A friend of mine, after a number of years of trial and error, is only recently beginning to rejoice in seeing his father start up the side of the mountain.  The value of traversing the mountain is realized when all who willing to climb gain a deeper understanding of themselves and each other.  What was once a symbol of hurt, miscommunication, and separation is now a common perspective to connect and grow.

In my life, I’ve ignored the mountain and I’ve prayed for the mountain to magically go away.  Maybe it is time for me to start climbing.