One of the things I have learned in the last ten years from him is that there is always a real live person behind a heated situation, a controversy, an issue, or what have you. The nature of Mr. Wood’s job is such that, every single day, he comes into contact with folks who have made bad choices, some of them heinous. When I ask him specifics about those choices, his answer is typically, “oh I don’t know, I could look it up, but I rarely do”. Maybe he’s lazy? Or is he not curious? Is he frightened to know? I don’t think so. I think it’s because he chooses every moment to see people rather than choices or events or crimes. Similarly, I have watched Mr. Wood nurture a nearly 25 year friendship with someone whom he completely disagrees with on a fairly large issue. The love, friendship, humility, and grace between the two of them is incredibly inspiring.
I want to live like that. I want to be in deep relationship with people who think and behave differently from me, and I want to see them as real live people who are more than their choices or life situations. I want to see every issue and life choice as a chance to know and love and learn from real live people, rather than a chance to stand on a platform and say what I think about it. I want to remain in solid friendship with my people whose lifestyles look different from mine and perhaps even make me feel uncomfortable at first. I want to be curious about what makes them tick, and I want to learn from them. And even if, at the end of the day, we don’t fully align on our beliefs and practices, I still want to have them over for tacos on the regular as we continue to be curious about each other and love each other.
I’m convinced this is the best way to do it, and, while I’m not completely there, you’ll find me over here on 5th Street trying again and again to find the real live people behind each one of the issues.
