My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. –John 17:20-21

When my daughter got her permit last year, we were at a left-turn lane when I asked her, “Now what do you do here”?

“You wait until the arrow is green, then to you turn left,” her gentle hands motioned to the left as if she were instructing me.

“Right”! I replied, though I knew she knew the answer as we’ve talked about road rules for a long time.

“Left”! She smiled with a Wiley Coyote smile.

“Right”! I knew where she was going, but couldn’t help take it further.

“No mom! Right”! Keeping up her grin.

We went back and forth a few times laughing the whole time.

Our comments couldn’t have been more divergent, yet humor was the common ground.

Humor may not always work, but common ground can be found with pretty much anyone, particularly in our circle of loved ones.

It’s difficult for me to listen to the news that today people seem to be more polarized and distant than in recent history. I have to ask why, when a simple sit-down, hearing each other out would make such a difference. Not only that, what about the good and fun one can have before launching into topics that may not matter in 10, 100 or 1000 years?

I recently listened to a podcast on Clear and Vivid by Alan Alda with former US Senator George Mitchell on his part in political diplomacy during pretty much most of his tenure as a public servant. He began by admitting some big mistakes, how he learned from them and how he recovered from the most part in nearly every situation.

He dealt with people who were quite opposite in just about every sphere we can imagine. He quoted Oliver Cromwell, “I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken,” after giving the backstory. The point was that Senator Mitchell refers back to this quote as means to peace, and will consider the fact that he may be incorrect in his well-thought opinion.

He also relayed the story of how it took years to help the Irish people find peace among eight main groups. In the middle of negotiations, when they would break, there was one rule: No business talk, only personal talk. Over the course of time, all eight factions began seeing their commonalities, and learned how to forgive, despite some horrific atrocities perpetrated on so many families.

Today, a generation exists that cannot relate to the divisions. The country is more unified, thankfully.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6/NIV

Amazing!