Thursday, November 19, 2020

Kathi Hardy

Dialogue

When I was a participant in Education for Ministry (EfM), there was a lesson where we talked about “dialogue”. I thought this was going to be an easy one – just look up the definition and read the seminar notes. I am educated, I read a lot, I have been exposed to many cultures. I can dialogue with anyone! But over a decade later, I am still struggling with starting and maintaining dialogues.

Dialogue, as I now understand, is the hardest type of conversation. It requires that I acknowledge the person I am speaking with has just as much conviction about what is right/wrong as I do. Dialogue is where I ask a question and set my own answers (and ego) aside to listen to and accept someone else’s realities. Dialogue is when I ask someone’s question in hopes to enlighten myself and not convert or change others in any way.

During the past several weeks I have been involved in two online discussions about race relations. One is a book group aboutWaking Up White byDebby Irving. The other is a series calledSacred Ground which is “A Film-Based Dialogue Series on Race & Faith”. When I was discussing this with a friend, they asked “Why should I study the race problem. If I treat everyone with dignity and fairness, isn’t that enough?” It could be. It could not be. The only way I will know is when I enter into dialogue with someone on the receiving end of racism and understand their perspective. It is only then that I can see the issue more clearly through a wider lens and become an effective participant in carrying on Jesus’ work in the world.