For the past couple of years, I’ve been thinking a lot about character. When I was growing up, developing character was important and having integrity was emphasized above all else, especially in my professional life. I look around the world today and wonder if integrity even matters to people. It seems politics is more important than anything. If someone is from your party, they can do nothing wrong, but the other party can do no right. If my team is looking bad, it is fake news. If the other team is looking good, the numbers are not real. To me, right is right and wrong is wrong. The letter behind someone’s name is not a factor.
One area of integrity that seems lacking to me is empathy. The idea that we can understand and share the feelings of other people. All the people I have known in my life that I thought had high integrity cared about people and showed compassion in how they treated others. Even those who are different. They look different, come from different countries, love different, and yes, even vote differently. Do you remember a time when people from different political parties would have an open conversation and really listen to each other?
Empathetic people are often the first to offer to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on, regardless of how they might be feeling. When a person stands up for another, they are showing empathy. I think being respectful of others is an important component of integrity, which is why people with integrity approach others with empathy and compassion. They see each person they meet as unique, with diverse skills, experiences, and viewpoints that are worthy of their attention.
It seems today many people are digging their heals in, only seeing their own viewpoint and unwilling to listen to the other side. They disregard religions or cultures that differ from their own.
Maybe it is time for us all to learn about people who have different views and show some empathy and compassion to others. Celebrate the diversity God created instead of fearing differences. If we don’t, what will happen to this world? If hate wins, everyone loses.
Be a light!