Create more peace and justice

Create more peace and justice. So many things come to mind that relate to this topic. I just finished reading Desmond Tutu's book, No Future Without Forgiveness and saw how the concept of asking forgiveness reconciled the differences, the anger, the atrocities of South Africans against South Africans creating an impetus towad a peaceful, forgiving society.

What did the Truth and Reconciliation Commission do? They listened. They heard the pain, the sorrow, the guilt and did not pass judgment. That's the first step toward creating more peace and justice. Listening without judging.

We don't listen.

We don't interrupt. We are, in fact, a civilized society.

But we don't listen. We wait until the other person takes a breath, all the while conjuring up our next brilliant, sarcastic reply, then we jump up on our own soapbox, not even considering what the other person said. We may not even be speaking on the same topic. Because we didn't listen.

How does one listen?

By putting aside all thoughts. By focusing on the tone, the body language and the words of the speaker. By looking at another person and seeing perfection, not deficiency. By giving our entire being to the content that is delivered. Not to the flaws in grammar or the nervous twitches. By listening to what is being said.

Just listen. Nod your head a few times. Say, "Um hmmm."

See what returns to you. See what the other person means. See where the discussion goes when you aren't in control of it.