Division brings Destruction!

In recent times, everywhere we look, we can observe a division: right vs. left, liberal vs. conservative, socialism vs. capitalism, vegans vs. carnivores, and so on ... the list is immense. We experience this animosity coming from the polarity in our families, at work, at school and even within the Church itself. "Every kingdom divided against itself will be destroyed. Every city, every house divided against itself cannot subsist." (Matthew 12:25) Division brings destruction, Jesus warns us. The very meaning of the word devil is divisive, that which brings division and discord.

One of the great problems of this polarity is that people simply do not know how to talk anymore, to explain their point of view, without feeling personally affected if the other disagrees with what they are talking about, or goes against their ideas. This is an attitude that demonstrates a great immaturity, because the fact that I disagree with your opinion doesn't mean that I'm assaulting you, or that I don't like you. And when you take the discussion to the personal side, emotions emerge and all rationality goes away. Then the verbal (and sometimes even physical!) aggression really begins and totally breaks any existing bond. Each one goes to one side, hurt, wounded. Nobody wins. There are only losers.

It is also important to say that the attitude of avoiding conflict with the discourse that "everyone has their own opinion and that all are valid" is not correct either. The truth exists and it is only one. There is no possibility that all sides are correct. For those who search with sincerity of heart, the truth is possible to find. The truth wants to reveal itself and wants to be accessible to everyone.

The attitude we must have in front of the other who disagrees with our point of view is, in the first place, respect. If the other thinks differently, certainly he has his reasons, then it is necessary to have patience and availability to listen to him, without prejudice, without being on guard, trying to put yourself in his place and see things the way he sees them. Remember that what he is talking about is just his opinion, his way of seeing the situation, but it doesn't represent what he truly is: a soul dear and loved by God who was put on your path so that, who knows, you can help him in his pilgrimage to Heaven.

The second step is to use reason, intelligence. Explain your arguments clearly and without offense. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you speak in a way that the other understands, without the intention of showing superiority, but with the only goal of reaching the truth. If you are not sure of the reasons that lead you to have a certain point of view, do not be ashamed to speak that you will try to study more, try to understand the fundamentals, and then talk about it again. One more option is to invite the other to seek the truth together.

Another fundamental aspect is to have the openness and humility to know that you are the one who can be wrong, so it is very important to listen to the other with an open heart, trying to analyze if by any chance he or she may be right in what they say. There is no problem to change your mind if you see that the truth is on the other side! This attitude shows maturity and good will to seek the good."You will know the truth and the truth will set you free!” (John 8:32)

 Let us seek unity and not division. In any conversation where there is evidence of discord, look first for the common point, where all are in agreement. This point can be the good of the country, health, prosperity, happiness. Every subject has an aspect that both sides agree on. And talk from there, recognizing that both seek the same thing, only from different points of view. If by chance the spirits get excited, close the subject and leave the conversation for another day. No winners or losers. Division brings destruction!