On Thursday, toward the end of our group’s 2021 bike ride, Mick and I rode from Grass Valley in the west side of the Sierras to his daughter and son-in-law’s house in Susanville, on the east side. Friday was a family birthday celebration, so that day I took off on a solo ride north on Hwy 139 past Eagle Lake to Alturas and then south on Hwy 395 back to Susanville. That ride provided 135 miles of joy. I left the music off to focus on enjoying the scenery: majestic mountains and lush grassy meadows and high desert, good-sized lakes and dry creek beds. Ponderosa pines and aspen and cedar and pinon pines. Deer and cattle and eagles and hawks and juncos and who knows what else.
I apologize for having no pictures of the ride, but I can’t say I’m sorry. I left the phone in the fairing pocket to enhance meditation and prayer. I DID take one pic, the café in Alturas with cinnamon rolls that compete with any for tastiness. So let the drooling begin.
The variety God placed in our world was clear. All aspects of the terrain work together. All aspects of plant and animal life work together. It struck me: God must love variety—he made so much of it. Then a deeper thought hit. After each day of creating the physical world, he pronounced it good. On the day of human creation, he pronounced it very good. Why can’t we?
I tend to see deserts as a lot of ground to cover before reaching the mountains. Why can’t I love all parts of his creation? I tend to spend little time with those not like me, in beliefs and values and behaviors. Why can’t I love and extend grace and companionship to those who differ?
Why can’t I cherish each individual as God does? After all, he gave his son Jesus for the all the people in the world. I suspect God’s love isn’t limited to those who agree with him…because none of us fully do.
And maybe, just maybe, I need to give a special measure of God’s love and grace to those who don’t agree with me, to those with different backgrounds or cultures, to those I don’t feel comfortable around. Obviously, love and acceptance doesn’t mean we agree with them, but that we value them to the same measure that God values them. Maybe then they might listen to us with respect, if we begin by listening to them with respect?
A high challenge? You bet. But can we justify not striving to treat different people as God treats us? I think not.
Kick Starting the Application
Think about your interactions, either in person or on social media or those on broadcast media. Would an unbiased observer consistently see love and respect in how you disagree with them? If not, should you change? What changes could you make? Will you?
