I don't do this often - but I hope you enjoy it...

I don't do this often...but felt led to share. Would LOVE to hear your thoughts...It was too long for a post, but here is the link to the article. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!

This has been a week for so many reasons...but really, it has been a year+. Over the years I have found my heart shifting to one that isn’t responding immediately, versus being on edge and immediate in my response. Still working on it but learning it is important to know who you are, have a set of values based upon truth - which for myself is only found in God’s word - and then knowing my only purpose in life is to glorify the Lord. The only reason for which I was created. All that to say, it is vital, critical, crucial, to be able to have a strong brand that listens, hears, understands, searches for the “why” and believes that cutting an entire segment of the population out is an egregious option.

I am seeing countless posts and people simply cutting out people for reasons they believe are righteous and worthy. If the goal is a United States of America, we must talk. But more, we must listen. It is a rarity that I can’t see and understand the ‘why’ behind someone’s thoughts and behavior - even when wrong. Once I hear and see and I understand the ‘why,’ I am able to not only put myself in their shoes but respond through a different filter.

Before you post, espouse, yell, speak —- ask yourself, what is the goal of this moment?

This doesn’t make you weak, it actually shows incredible strength and wisdom - it also takes a strong brand with a deep value set to tip toe to conversations that may be uncomfortable.

Don’t throw people away. Don’t throw groups of human beings away. Don’t say you are full of grace and righteousness and say you don’t associate with ‘certain’ people. I have seen human beings, some deemed to be the WORST of society change and become the best. People who many ‘threw’ away. Be the example of grace you say you are. Don’t throw people away and by all means, don’t stop listening and being an example. Imagine, one word, one moment, one instance of listening to someone you don’t agree with, one act of grace - can plant a seed that changes a heart. Phew.

So you want to be known for hating? Having righteous anger that separates you from so many? Or being a peacemaker? Someone who can have thoughts and filters and upbringings that differ but a SAFE place for all human beings because you understand they too have different filters were brought up differently, were treated differently etc?

Growing up, I always thought a war was coming - I grew up in San Diego, no war - but my heritage is Serbian - and I grew up listening to stories about WWII, the atrocities, the genocide, the Nazi's and other horrible groups, and my mind knew that I had enemies at a young age. Visiting family in what was 'Yugoslavia,' we talked about how if there was an attack during the night, it was always a good idea to hide in the corn fields - literally. When your family immigrates from a war torn world, you grow up differently - much different filter and much different version of fight or flight. I heard about the enemies, those who threw my family into ditches, buried them alive, massacred them as other family watched and MUCH worse so I'll keep this PG for now. Again, I knew my enemies - I could name the 'groups' of people who had committed these acts and I knew how HORRIBLE they were. Fast forward 30+ years - I know that groups of people are not my enemy. Groups of people are not to be thrown away, groups of people are not trash or unworthy of life - and the hearts in these groups of people can only change if we tackle the issues head on...and stop hating. Some hearts will never change - that is up to God to fix...But I know from experience, that looking at 'groups' of people like they are the enemy, or not worthy of trying to figure out their 'why,' and then choosing to say your a leader but not really leading with the purpose of changing hearts is never the key. I don't 'hate' those groups of people I am talking about because my job isn't to hate - it is to know what is right and wrong, hold people accountable as necessary and as often as necessary, but it is also to understand 'why' they do what they do, and REALLY dig to understand the filter so that I can be a PART of their change - because if I am not, I am no better. I don't throw people away. I don't throw anyone away - even when they have made egregious mistakes - I believe in accountability, but no human being and no group is trash. We are all created in the image of the Almighty God. Accountability and grace do not have to be separate.

One good word from you, or one moment of respect shown by listening, with the Lord's guidance, can change one heart, one mind and even one generation. If you want the nation to heal - don’t be divisive. Ask WHY to those you don’t agree with. Understand their filter and how they may have come to a certain way of thinking.

BECOME UNCOMFORTABLE. Most people simply want to be heard.

MY TWO CENTS straight from my heart.

https://lnkd.in/eY9PrEb # #leadership #executivecoach #communication

#why