What Do You See

Clouds sailing across the sky like a boat across the bright blue sea.
Clouds that are shapes and can awaken our imagination.
Clouds that invite us back to child-like wonder.

In these three clouds I see:
A frog or maybe a kind of lizard (top)
A dog/raccoon/cow on its back (middle)
A skinny shark swimming in the sea (bottom)

But the great part of this is...it doesn't matter what I see.
Or whether you see what I see.
Or whether we would agree that clearly the dog/raccoon/cow combination in the middle is chasing a feather.

Yet, so often when we see something we are adamant and insistent you must see the same way.  That is the cultural waters in which we all swim today.  But I wonder how often we really persuade people to "our side".  So often we end up "agreeing to disagree"...which while it is a catchy cliche, it just means that you stay safe in your camp and I stay in mine...and we refuse to talk about that topic any more.

We have lost the art of discussion. 
We have lost the art of see the beauty of diversity, in school of thought.
And you might be thinking, "Well, I am still open minded, it is those people who are not!" 
I fully realize that people's actions and words wound us ~ physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 
I fully realize that you might say, "But it is a leap between talking about clouds and issues of race or gender or orientation!"  You would be right. But maybe part of what we have lost is the ability to talk about creative matters where there is space to roam/express insights or ideas and focus only on the weightier parts of life.
I fully realize that it feels safer to be with people who agree with us.  Only if we start honestly to go beneath the surface, we might discover just how much difference there is. 

Suddenly, we start saying that anyone who sees a frog or lizard in the clouds above doesn't know what he or she is talking about.  So we try to find people who agree with us that clearly it is mouse or house or side profile of your mother-in-law.

When I start to hear why you see what you see, you put a frame ~ give me a glimpse ~ into your life.  When I listen to your explanation, you are sharing the you that you might often hide.

While this may not heal the world immediately, it may just help us start to form a foundation upon which we might build a relationship...where the traces of God's grace can move in our midst.

Blessings ~~