Willingness
Willingness is the key to most actions in life. For example, I have to be willing to eat healthy food or get enough sleep.
But willingness takes effort, and many times, self-sacrifice.
Sacrifice
The self-sacrifice is most difficult when I have to give up the idea that my way is best, or I must stop controlling people and events to get the outcome I want.
And releasing control is hard even when the consequences of still trying to control can destroy relationships and harm others.
Common Ground
The word “compromise” is sometimes used negatively, as if finding common ground for a solution is the same as giving up ALL of the most important parts of myself.
That’s simply not true. To have peace, and live in safety, I have to trust others and do my best to find common ground.
Another action that gets bad press is “standing up for what is right”.
Yes, there are some issues that are so vital to me and what I believe, that I might have to agree to disagree with others who believe differently.
But I don’t have to, and will not, try to destroy another person for disagreeing with me.
There are so many issues where everyone wants the same thing. And the only path to a solution is to be willing to speak with other people and find a way to resolve differences.
There’s enough hatred of “the other” in the world to destroy all of us.
Maybe I can’t always turn “the other” into a friend. And there may be situations where I can respectfully disagree, or can only find a small number of points on which I agree with a person very different from myself.
But I’m not willing to live in that world of hating “the other”. So my only option is to be willing to sacrifice what I can to find a path to mutual understanding, peace, and safety.
What helps you find common ground with others?
Willingness, Sacrifice, and Common Ground – What helps you find common ground with others? Share on XJoni Vance is an award-winning author of fiction, essay, and poetry. She loves mystery, history, and how God reveals Himself every day.
May God reveal the mystery of His love in your life story.
Thanks for a thought-provoking and insightful blog, Joni. Great suggestions on striving to show love toward others.
I appreciate you reading and sharing, Kim. Thanks for your support of my posts.
God becomes the common ground for me. If “the others” love God and want to be pleasing to Him and follow His Word, then common ground is found through the leading of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives.
Thanks for sharing, Jane. I appreciate your comments and support.
There’s great wisdom in your message, Joni. Thank you. John 14:34-35 inspires me to love others, especially in challenging times. Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” Jesus loves us through the trials, conflicts, and hard times and He reminds us to do the same for others.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Katherine. I appreciate you sharing the verse to love others.
We can’t compromise truth, but we can continue to love people who disagree with us.
Thanks, Phyllis. I appreciate you reading and sharing.
Listening, but maintaining one’s moral standards.
A quote from D.A. Carson:
“People don’t drift toward holiness.
They drift toward compromise and call it tolerance,
and drift toward disobedience and call it freedom.”
Thank you for your response and the quote. I have to have God’s help to affect others positively and not be affected negatively.