Tolerance or respect?

Tolerance, that word. Someone used it with me recently. If you know me you understand what a mistake that can be. I don't really believe in tolerance in general. For me tolerance implies superiority. To tolerate something is to allow it to happen in your presence without stopping it. It implies that you really don't like or understand it but you won't fight it.
Wow! Love, acceptance, understanding, those are much better words.
Each has their place depending on the situation.
I may tolerate activities, but I don't think I should ever feel I am tolerating people. People are to be loved, understood and respected.
I find in our society we tolerate what we don't understand, but in that action we can hold it a distance away. We don't have to try to see the person behind it. We don't have to drop the divisions and try to understand. We can just tolerate and move on.
Very often in the moment where we make the decision about how to take our next step with someone who brings is out of our comfort zone, we either learn or run. I see it in life all the time.
A situation presents itself and it is a little different that the norm. What do we do, if we can, we usually chose not to go there. But to continue on the path we have walked before.
I can think of so many examples, but a few include: Social status, race, culture, physical disability, religion, differing philosophy and the most common FEAR.

How often we chose to turn away from these things is a direct indication of our unwillingness to grow and understand others. The amount of time we spend being comfortable is a direct indication of our lack of growth.

Someone recently asked me about my philosophy on how I try to live my life. I said I try to live the Jesus life. Not so much religion with the barriers it imposes, but pure Jesus. I explained this meant to me that I had to meet people where they were, see them as people, help them with their needs, speak the truth and offer them acceptance, while at the same time showing them a better way in some cases.
"What a radical concept" was the response. At first I was shocked. Then I realized. We don't often really do this. In fact I can tell you that some of my toughest moments happen at church. Church people usually like safety. They love to feel secure in their knowledge and their practices. Don't shake it up by suggesting something new or different or Jesus like. Keep it comfortable for the masses. Keep it comfortable and keep it safe. Say the right things, do the right things in the right context. No stones thrown or beheadings will happen here because there will never be that much controversy. We will keep it safe. Now a lot of people won't get their needs met. A lot of people won't feel accepted. A lot of people will go away feeling more lost and confused. But WE, we will feel OK. Because none of those in our inner circle were made to feel a little uncomfortable. None were asked to stretch.
I am not angry. I make mistakes all day long every day and I can be a little grouchy. But how much longer. When will we understand. When will we try. Will we continue on this path. Because I don't think this is the narrow path that we are suppose to be walking. I don't think that narrow path is a creed, I think it's a lifestyle. I think it is the woman at the well, the Samaritan, the man in the ditch. Not the people in the temple but the people at work and at school and at church! That is why there will be few who find the path. The path is not on our normal route. We might have to take a detour.
By now you may have had enough. I tend to rant from time to time:) But what will you do? Did you tolerate the message? Or did you seek to understand it? Today my challenge is to learn to understand you. To listen when I want to talk. To be open to challenge of my beliefs when I want to shut down and walk away.
Wow, it does often feel like a battle. What I have found though, is if I take the first few steps in the direction of discomfort and wait a while, I often learn so much and even enjoy much of the process.