What's the Difference?

Each one of us is different. We have different histories, mindsets, thought processes, interests, and looks. I might have blue eyes, while you have brown. Your hair might be dirty blonde, mine is brown. I might be not so good looking, you might be the best looking person around. Everyone knows this is so, correct? The one problem that many of us have is accepting those differences. Temptation to judge others comes from that inability to accept.

This struck me while watching and reading recent Olympics coverage. If you do not know, the Winter Olympics are currently being held in Vancouver, Canada.

Here is a link to some NBC's late night coverage featuring Stephen Colbert. Copy and paste it to the top of your web page to get there. You may have to download an application for it as well.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=3f28aedd-76c9-457f-abe6-68e0646a20e5.html

If it didn't work, the feature basically shows Colbert making fun of Canadians, saying they are quote "uninsultable," all while wearing a red and black Canadian Mountie uniform...he is mocking the country.

After watching that, read this article by Rick Reilly...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4906756

These are two of the most beloved personalities in the media today. I don't mind listening or laughing with either, but if you really look at these examples, how would you feel if someone made fun of your way of life? I'm kind of disappointed in both.

I'm all for playful ribbing every once in awhile, but never at the expense of my customs or traditions. I love America, but these two examples are demeaning to the entire country of Canada, and three fourths of the audience will miss that. It's another way of saying the US is better than everyone else. It's not. Other countries have a lot to offer, and you would be fascinated with the way some places operate. That's what makes the Olympics special, you can get a brief taste of how different people of different origins act in one place. Let's accept that and let it grow to every day of the year.

We as a people need to accept that other cultures are different than ours, and then break that down to our individual interactions every day. Someone might be different than you, but that doesn't mean their way of life is wrong, or that yours is right. It's just the way it is. Only God knows the right way to live, and the only person to completely live the right way to this point in time was really just His Son, Jesus.

A lot of people have it worse than you and me, so that doesn't mean we should rub it in their face and make fun of them for that. Why not help them? Why not become friends with that one person who rubbed you the wrong way just because of what they believed? The may be more like you than you think.

Some people might not like my hair, or the way I wear my jeans, or the way I practice my beliefs in my everyday life, but that doesn't mean they have to ignore me, or that I have to ignore them. It is a challenge, we all know this, but everyone lives their lives much differently from one another. It would be pretty boring if everyone did the same thing.

Picture yourself in some kind of social setting. Jokes and laughs are always plentiful...by all means have a fun time. Can't it get nasty sometimes though, maybe even offensive? Having fun at the expense of others is fun for everyone...except the person being offended. It might not seem like that big of a deal, and most of the time it's not. Those targeted may be feeling a touch of hurt deep down though.

For example, I get made fun of quite a bit...and somehow have earned the nickname "Grandpa". Nothing wrong with that. Grandpas are great. I could be called much worse things. If someone were to ever seclude me or keep me out of their group because of that though, that's a different story. It hasn't happened in my case, but all of the time good individuals are ostricized in their own group of friends just because they are different.

It's tempting to join in isn't it? We've all given in. If you want to look at the right way to do it, just look at this week's Gospel. Jesus is tempted three times by the devil, and never wavers. Try to be like Jesus and not even flinch. Recognize when the temptation is there. It's when something shouldn't feel quite right in your mind. Putting yourself out there when it's not exactly the most popular thing to do is truly living the way Jesus wanted us to live. His entire public work was based on that, and don't be worried about secluding yourself and losing friends. Look at Jesus, he had quite the following of apostles and disciples.

Most importantly, look inside yourself. This past weekend, I was in my home parish, St. James Church. Father Peter Worn spoke about us recognizing that we do need help. If we are arrogant, cocky, or overconfident about our ability to stand up to temptation, we won't do very well. We need God. He helps us stand up to anything that tempts us, and we need to recognize that he makes us that strong. We can't do it by ourselves.

Keep walking with God in this first full week of Lent. We aren't perfect, but by realizing our own weaknesses we will be able to appreciate everything that is different from our own way of living. God is always there, and will be with us through any of the bad temptations that breed from those differences. Do what makes you the happiest, but not at the expense of people you don't know quite enough about. Jesus stood up to all temptation, and He was a human just like us.

So, why can't we do it too?