BUILDING COMMUNITY
Creation is immeasurably diverse. Whether you count insects, rep- tiles, birds or mammals, including humans, there are myriad individ- uations – each one-of-a-kind! When we hide among those with whom ZHKDYHDQḊ QLW\DUHVHPEODQFHRUFXOWXUDOFRQQHFWLRQZHURERXU - selves of the opportunity to experience the richness of the creation. Cultural blindness refers to the lack of awareness and understand- LQJRIFXOWXUDOGL̆ HUHQFHVRIWHQOHDGLQJWRWKHLPSRVLWLRQRIRQH¶VRZQ cultural values on others. It’s a state of being unaware of, or actively ignoring, the diverse cultural backgrounds, beliefs, and practices pres- ent within a group or society. 8QIRUWXQDWHO\WKHSUDFWLFHVRILJQRULQJDQGRURWKHULQJDUHH[FHHG - LQJO\FRPPRQ,IZHLJQRUHWKRVHZKRDUHGL̆ HUHQWIURPXVQRWRQO\ are we denying them recognition, we deprive ourselves of opportuni- ties to learn and connect. If we engage in othering — labeling — we are judging, devaluing and relegating them to something unacceptable. We are separating them from us. We are denigrating and discarding them. Who are we to judge others based on our assumptions? Whether you consider yourself a humanist, deeply religious, or somewhere in the middle, it makes sense to interact with everyone and everything for the betterment of all. Inclinations to divide stem from fear based on biases, preconceived notions, or a lack of critical thinking. Building Cultural Bridges I am inviting you to consider enhancing how you see the world. Even if you already embrace the concept of oneness (not to be confused with “sameness”), hidden biases probably are lurking within you. The way we humans learn is to observe, compare and store all our experienc- HV7KHPRPHQWZHFRPSDUHZHDUH¿OWHULQJRXUREVHUYDWLRQV7KDW
¿OWHULQJIXQFWLRQLVWKHLPSRVLWLRQRIXQFRQVFLRXVELDVHV8QOHVVVXFK biases are addressed at the conscious level, they alter perceptions, like bugs in software that can cripple our operating systems. Although people often assert, “I’m not biased,” their internal controller adds ³SURYLGHGSHRSOHOLYHWKHLUOLYHVZLWKLQP\FRPIRUW]RQH´ 'RHV\RXUKHDUW\HDUQIRUDZRUOGFRPSRVHGRILQGLYLGXDOVIDPLOLHV neighborhoods, cultures and communities living together in peace? 0LQH GRHV -RKQ /HQQRQ¶V VRQJ ³,PDJLQH´ LPPHGLDWHO\ FRPHV WR mind. :D\QH'\HUWDXJKW³:KHQZHFKDQJHWKHZD\ZHORRNDWWKLQJVWKH things we look at change.” /LIHLVFRPSRVHGRIP\ULDGFXOWXUHVVRFXOWXUDOGL̆ HUHQFHVDUHXELT - XLWRXV <RX PD\HQFRXQWHU FRPPXQLFDWLRQGLVFRQQHFWV ZLWKLQ \RXU own family, neighbors, religions, partisan perspectives, ethnicities or internationally. It’s important to acknowledge gaps exist everywhere, DQGDOOWRRRIWHQZLWKLQRXUFORVHVWUHODWLRQVKLSV0DQ\GLVFRQQHFWV have taken on proportions that seem wider than the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. When we shift how we see our world, we shift the world — we radi- FDOO\FKDQJHUHODWLRQVKLSV interpersonal, interfaith, intercultural and international. A colleague stated, “How you see them is how you serve them.” How we see each person in our lives impacts how we relate WRZLWKWKHP The opportunity to change the whole world by shifting how we relate to our fellow humans and all creation is right in front of us, in plain sight. &XOWXUDO GLYHUVLW\ DERXQGV DURXQG XV :H JHW WR EH WUDLOEOD]HUV changing the world by starting conversations even when we feel scared, continued on page 34
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Misty Kuceris, Reiki Master & Pathways Columnist
PATHWAYS—Winter 25-26—33
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