I was listening recently to a podcast interview of Claudia Rankine, an author who writes a lot on racial issues and other issues that divide us. She does a lot of book tours and speaking, and so is picked up and driven by strangers to and from airports. On this she noted:
“I am often being driven by people who are not me, and I spend a lot of time thinking about how can I say this so that we can stay in this car together and yet explore the things that I want to explore with you.”
On that line, “how can I say this so that we can stay in this car together,” the interviewer, Krista Tippett noted – “that should be a national motto for us.” Indeed, thinking on that it occurred to me, literally and figuratively, that we all seem to be driving alone in our cars these days, and when we seek company, it is the company of people who look, think, talk, and act like us. Often, when we choose to speak in response to others speaking, it takes on a divisive “my way or the highway” tone clearly not geared to the thought that “we can stay in this car together.”
Anyway, I like that thought, the thought of managing conversation “so that we can stay in this car together” and learn something about each other as people, perhaps focusing on what we have in common as opposed to what we don’t.
“Strive for peace with everyone….” Hebrews 12:14
It occurs to me... 