Words of Hope: Coming to the Table
One of our staff posted something on their social media which deeply grieved another staff member. This is always challenging. How do we handle our disagreements? This situation caused me to think for a long time about culture care and the ways we show care to one another. Some equate the culture of an organization as the soul of the organization. How does this culture make me feel, what emotions does it bring out in my life, what is the nature of my soul in connection with this culture?
In response to the social media post, the question became what does the NBC Camps culture value considering this situation? One person feels bold making the post, the other feels deeply harmed by the post. In the end, two stories emerged, and their two life experiences collided because of a quip about a topic that is deeply painful and not easily discussed online.
Culture provides context for stories. In a war culture, there is no story. There is a trench, there are weapons, there is tremendous need for boldness, fighting, and survival. The story of the other person in the trench on the other side of the war line only serves to confuse.
In communal culture, story is preeminent. The table and the fireside become the central part of this community. Story is sacred as are the cultural acts of listening, sharing, communion, prayer, personal faces, and human hearts.
When I spoke with both staff members I worked to try and move us out of the war culture with its erasure of humanity and move to the table. Can we move into a space of deepest listening, a time to listen to the story behind the quip, time to recognize the face hit by insult, or time to engage in consideration of the cost our bold quest of cultural warfare extracts. Can we pause to consider how sides, politics, crusades, or social warfare can kill our own souls? Can we consider the trenches we have built in our lives? Can we instead come with love, joy, peace, and hope to the table God has prepared for us?
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. – Romans 12:18
