The last year has been a hurricane of conflicting political messages, omnipresent in our world of news, print, and media. Our country is more polarized than it has been in many years and it’s crept up on us. Even after a bitter and emotional election our country is deeply divided, and we are realizing there is a lot still dividing many of us as friends or even family members. What if our next wish is to listen to understand what another person cares deeply about? What if we wished to really listen and just paraphrase how the person feels, or label what they truly care about, or what they hope for in our country? What if our amazing skill of paraphrasing provided the opportunity to capture the depths of another’s heart or hopes? What if we hear a cry for collaboration again? What if it were a deep prayer for grace and compromise?

You have learned in your seminars how powerful the simple act of just witnessing another’s passion and articulating how deeply they care about our country, our families, and our collective futures. What if just using your skill opened not only hearts and insights but also deep value for tolerance and grace?

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