Our Common Ground
“For those of us who want to see democracy survive and thrive—and we are legion—the heart is where everything begins: that grounded place in each of us where we can overcome fear, rediscover that we are members of one another, and embrace the conflicts that threaten democracy as openings to new life for us and for our nation. . . .“ Parker Palmer
Have you ever noticed when you are hiking that when you meet someone on the trail they often will recognize you with a greeting and a friendly smile? They will sometimes even give you advice or warn you of some possible obstacles or dangers to look out for ahead on the trail.
During our Camino walk this was even more pronounced as you passed by other fellow pilgrims. There was a real connection felt we each other. Fellow pilgrims just loved sharing with each other the challenges that lay ahead for you or give you some great little tips that would assist you on your journey ahead.
Why are folks so friendly and helpful during the times I am hiking in nature or when I was walking the Camino?
I wonder if maybe it might be because we are sharing some “common ground” together? In the case of meeting other fellow hikers on the trail, could the common ground be our love of being in nature and how it seems to heal us and make us better? Maybe it might be our shared love of being outdoors and exercising? Maybe it is the sense of adventure that comes with hiking, what you might see when you hike this trail (wildlife or new vistas you have not seen before)?
The “common ground” with our fellow pilgrims on our Camino walk was likely due to the sharing of a common goal, walking the Camino where we literally were walking on the same path that so many, many fellow pilgrims have walked for hundreds of years! We also shared the hardships and joys as well of this walk and loved sharing it with the many pilgrims we met along the way.
So, this got me thinking about how very divided our United States is right now and how can we begin to see the “common ground” that we share together? As the quote at the beginning of this blog states, maybe we need to look into our hearts to overcome our fears of each other and realize we are all connected together.
It is challenging to look into “ones heart”, to take a critical look at ourselves. It takes a higher level of consciousness to seriously consider our biases.
“How can we learn to see, to see what’s really there, to see what our neighbor sees but that we’ve always missed, to help others see what we see, to open our eyes together and see what we’ve never seen, or even been able to see?” Brian McLaren
“It is our highest ethical calling to learn how to see.” Rabbi Hartman at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem
I have recently found a new podcast, called “Learning How To See” that I am finding quite helpful in exploring the biases that can be present in us and in many cases we may not be aware of. We all have our “blind spots” that prevent us from truly seeing. It is only as we keep discussing, keep thinking, keep talking that we are able to recognize our “blind spots” and then perhaps move forward onto “common ground”.
I hope you might find time to listen to this new podcast and let me know what you think.
Blessings and all good,
John
Photograph of the Month
As we enter fall and the first snows begin to fall on the mountains, I love to get up and capture some images of the fresh snow on the mountain peaks. The is Del Campo Peak, which I have always loved. It is such a beautiful rugged looking mountain!
It was one of my first true mountains I climbed. I was taking the Boeing Alpine Climbing course and this was one of the mountains we climbed.
weareallpilgrims 