The more I put myself out into the world, the more I'm noticing a huge rift. It manifests in dozens of ways, but it's always the same, primary issue: An inability to coexist.
Diversity is what makes the world go round. There is an abundance of culture everywhere you look. There are so many ways that I can immerse myself in different communities and learn about the people that make them.
The best way to explain this is by talking about what I did this weekend.
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I spent this past weekend on an InterVarsity retreat, but I am not a Christian. It sounds contradictory, doesn't it?
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not an atheist or a radical or whatever else you're thinking about. I have my own set of beliefs and ideas, I just love learning about religion. I actually enjoy reading the texts and learning about the messages that provide the core of their belief system. I just don't subscribe (for lack of a better term) to any one belief system. I want to know why people believe the things they do.
That's not why I joined InterVarsity, though. Not originally, anyway. At first, I joined because of a good friend of mine. I didn't expect anything to come of it. I didn't really consider myself an actual member, because I was honestly just there to support her. But the more I attended her small group and the more we talked about it, the more I wanted to be a part of it.
In case you don't know, InterVarsity is an inter-denominational, Christian, college ministry. They have small groups and large group every week, which is exactly what it sounds like. Small groups provide a more intimate, personal setting, while large group is very similar (in my opinion) to a regular church service.
The same friend that got me interested in InterVarsity is the same friend that talked me into going, and I'm honestly glad I did. My small group (the same friend led the group I was in) knew that I wasn't Christian. I told them the very first time we met. I partly did so in case they thought something I said was weird of kind of off the wall, but also to ensure that they didn't take whatever it would be in a not-so-good way.
The discussions that we had in small group were really worthwhile and shoved all of my worries out the window. I was so concerned that I would be rejected or ignored, and I shouldn't have been. They welcomed my beliefs and actively listened to me because I was respectful of them. I recognized that we were different and our ideas were different, and they did the same in turn.
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Coexistence is possible. I've experienced it, and not just because of this past weekend. Each experience that I've had had reinforced the idea that we can coexist, but there has to be a mutual understanding and respect from all parties involved.
It can be difficult, I know, especially when it seems like there are a lot of differences, but it is possible.
