The Grasshopper offered this oblique observation this morning: “Young isn’t stupid and old isn’t wise.”

After reflecting on the words, here’s what registered with me: It seems that we have too many stereotypes in our kit and caboodle. And when we employ them, we shut off our ability to learn something new.

Prejudice feeds on stereotypes.

When we get away from the macro and get down to the micro, we witness the cliche´ fade away.

We, too often, forget that we all want the same things: acknowledgement, love, peace, and kindness to name but a few. The “other” is really us in a different suit of clothes. They may look, act, and sound different, but upon closer inspection, we have more in common than we have differences.

The Bible passage, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” says so much in so few words. To me, it also suggests forgiveness. To love yourself, you have to forgive yourself, same goes for your neighbor.

When sorting things, it’s helpful to put them in a specific box. When assessing another, it’s downright neighborly to think outside the box, because that’s where you’re going to find common ground.

We’re always going to have differences with one another. The real question is: What can we learn from those differences? Look closely enough and you’ll find the commonality that makes a difference: That we’re all rowing in the same boat.

All the best,

John

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