I didn't sleep well last night. I have an in-law who seems over the past few years to have become very angry and cynical. He espouses a world view that differs from mine. And that's ok. But the attacking and angry way he communicates his view became offensive to me.
I spent time with him yesterday at a birthday party for a family member. He started into a "speech" on all the problems in the United States, from gays (no marriage) to education (a cesspool) to gun control (no controls) to democrats (screwing up the country since before the Civil War), et el.
I don't know if he wanted to debate all of this or since he had a captive audience, it was one more place to voice his opinions. (he is prolific op ed contributor to the local newspapers.) I did not join in the debate...for two reasons. I am a conflict avoider. It is not one of my better traits. There is always conflict and the ideal is to address it in the most loving way possible. I have much work to do on that. But the bigger reason is that debate would have been useless. I think rather that look at an opposing opinion, he much more wanted the chance to prove himself right and others (me) wrong.
I struggled with anger last night, angry at his angry words...hence my lack of sleep. I came across a quote this morning which has softened my anger and moved me back toward love.
"The opposite of anger is empathy."
I will practice empathy today.
"Out beyond the fields of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field. I will meet you there." - Rumi
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