Yanni or Laurel?
I need an extra dose of grace today.
Just a couple years ago our division was so much more simple than it is today. We were faced with a unique opportunity during a viral internet trend to determine if we heard an audio clip repeat the word Yanni OR repeat the word Laurel. There really was no in between. We were listening to the same exact thing, and yet, depending on who sat in the room with you, most likely you quite literally heard something completely different on repeat.
Just this year I saw a similar version of a visual example of this. With this new viral divisive tool we had another clear example that it wasn’t only how we heard that could be so different, but also how we see. Looking at the exact same image (used here for impact), you either see a Pink/White OR Teal/Grey Sneaker. Honestly without these completely trivial, silly “tests” I don’t know if I could have come to understand and appreciate just how incredibly differently people are seeing the reality we are currently living in today. I don’t know that I could have had as much compassion (instead of assuming someone just really doesn’t get it).
It’s hard to see two people read the same article, listen to the same podcast, see the same social media post, attend the same church or even claim to worship the same God and see such different realities that no positive exchange ensues.
This is what has created a true divide in my family as I know is in so many families right now. We are literally seeing the world differently, often in complete opposite realities. I know I am not alone in this because of how often I am hearing about it recently so I wanted to discuss it. While I continue to search for the words that could help me to explain how and why I see what I see in a world that I feel wants so deeply to silence me in shame, I must seek the wisdom of God. I need His wisdom to discern when to speak and when to be silent. I need His wisdom to understand how to navigate through the counterfeit peace being created in a pretense of superficial acceptance to “agree to disagree”. I seek His grace to cover and create authentic connection and remove the scales from our eyes. Soften our hearts, Lord, and open our eyes! Lift this veil of confusion and deception and help us to see as YOU see.
It’s HARD to witness this polarized experience of our world because like many of you, I am a Truth chaser. For a long time, that desire led me to seek in many different places. I grew up in a very liberal world view and didn’t accept that there was absolute TRUTH until early motherhood. By the grace of God, I am what I am and where I am now and I understand, thankfully, that there is only one Truth. God pursued me and changed my heart. Who am I to get in the way of His pursuit of those in my life who may see differently today by holding anxiety, frustration, separation between us instead of His unending love and mercy. This exercise frees me to create REAL, everlasting peace with those in my family that are so clearly hearing and seeing differently than me in this moment as I ask for the wisdom, strength and ability to see them as He does. That is the “Di-Vision” I will be seeking to have….DIVINE-Vision.