I grew up with, at least I thought so then, lots of choices. I knew there were products available if one looked hard enough. With two or three producers in the world, it felt at the time like there were options. Yesterday I walked into a modern grocery store and found a whole section of plant and vegetarian options. I did not go looking for it. It was, to me, hard to ignore the twists and turns. My realisation of the choices on the table was bigger than anything I imagined growing up.
As I look towards today, I find myself taking a fresh look at the boundaries and barriers when I was young. The prevailing thought was understood with extreme clarity. My choices were limited to options seen as right or wrong, and good or bad. My choices would let me live with hope or condemn me to a life of darkness and isolation. As the Whispers within create a renewed awareness, I see the choices ahead differently.
Truth comes with many shades of grey. I am not suggesting that truth needs to be watered down. I recognise that truth and hope can be seen and experienced in different ways within our lives today. The truth may be revealed through an embrace where one knows s/he has been unconditionally accepted as s/he is. One Wisdom Writer’s observations continue to ring true; “Say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.” (Romans 14.5)
Hope is found in unconditional acceptance, community, kindness, and care. The store choice reminds me that everyone with these elements are allies in the battle for love. Life is never about me; it is always about us. I find myself looking for allies. Together we are in this. I want and need the strength that comes from relationships and belonging. Labels are not important. Everything comes from the heart.
