Someone else’s shoes

“We are sun and moon, dear friend; we are sea and land. It is not our purpose to become each other. It is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is: each the other’s opposite and complement.” ~Hermann Hesse, Narcissus and Goldmund

In our culture, we talk a lot about the importance of honoring our differences and celebrating our uniqueness. We want others to accept or appreciate our flaws and quirks — as well as our opposing points of view. We want the freedom to worship as we choose, the freedom to express ourselves, and the freedom to simply “be” ourselves. But are we just as willing to honor those who walk a different path? I pose the question because I’m working on this myself. ~CL

Photo of “Lost Soles” totem pole, in Glen Arbor, by Cindy La Ferle