TrueTolerance

 We live in very divided times. There is a strong sense of rightness among people with very different ideas of what that means. I believe in the importance of standing against those principles which I find dangerous, repulsive, or just plain unacceptable. I also believe in trying to walk in another’s shoes - to see their point of view from an unbiased position.

Fortunately, for those of us gathered together for a single purpose, we can set those divisions aside. In the rooms, we have a common goal: to find the sacredness in sobriety. Atheist, agnostic, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Jew, Native American,  or no particular affiliation; trade unionist, doctor, lawyer, clerk, or unemployed - we join together in one common cause.

We still find divisions in the groups themselves: straight, gay, men only, women only, but there will always, in every group, be one or more who stands out as ‘different’.  There’s the work! Can I exercise ‘true tolerance’ in sharing my story of recovery? Can I truly hope to be of service to him/her/them?

And more: can I see my own behavior or words as off-putting? Have I been responsible for someone who needed help going back out? Where am I intolerant? How does it show up? What do I do about it? What can I learn from it?

In these times of great division, it is more important than ever to learn to be truly tolerant. It’s what I would like to receive, it’s what I hope to model, and it’s always a learning experience.