Two Humans, Passing Through

Do you ever drive on two-lane country roads?

And, if so, do you wave to the strangers you pass along the way?

I do, and I have observed a delightful trend: about 90% of people wave back.

In many cases, they even initiate.

Sometimes, it's a couple fingers lifted off of the steering wheel.

Other times, it's a head nod.

And frequently, it's a full blown, arm-raised sort of wave.

I love these tiny exchanges.

They represent simplicity and goodness and an instance in time when all feels right with the world.

And, based on the range of bumper stickers and decals I've seen on these country roads, I know that the drivers hold a variety of different (and, often differing) views. The stickers range from red to blue and everything in between.

But in these tiny exchanges on the two-lane country roads, none of these things matter.

We are just two humans, passing through.

According to recently released research that Krystal and Saagar did a great job of breaking down this week, the population of the US is divided, almost exactly, on their feelings about “which party will be responsible for the collapse of the country.”

The feelings are just as strong on each side; the specific response simply depends who you ask.

What I take from this research is this:

Shouting loudly is not the answer–now, or in the future.

“Convincing people” [who to vote for, what to do, that they are wrong] is not the answer—now, or in the future.

People see the world differently for a variety of different reasons, and due to a number of personal values and life experiences that have led this to be the case.

As a result, perhaps our only option is to get curious.

To sit down, to have a conversation, and to deepen our understanding of “the other.”

To ask others about their lives, their values, their priorities, and the things that lead them to feel the way they do.

And to remember that at the end of the day, we usually aren't all that different;

rather, we are just two humans, passing through.

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