Inspired by Scholastica

 

Withstanding the Enemy

The Dalai Lama said that he learned a lot from those different from him in views, skin color, or even those who didn’t like him. They told him things others would not and he learned from their perspectives. So can we when we meet people with opposing viewpoints. This is especially necessary in this period of turbulent religious and political interchanges.

When we commit ourselves to viewing people that we do not agree with differently, what kinds of friends would lend us support? Robert Wicks speaks of four types that would help us keep this commitment: the prophet, the cheerleader, the harasser, and the inspirer. These kinds of friends would help us to be “resilient, challenged, supported and encouraged to live a spiritually rich life,” Wicks says.

The prophet type asks whose voices are you listening to? Prophets are not popular because they goad us relentlessly to listen and to discern.

The second type of friend is the cheerleader. This is the understanding person who shows us the “loving face of God.” If we have only prophets, we will wear out. If we have only cheerleaders, we won’t grow. Together they keep us in balance.

The third type of friend is the harasser who keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously which is disastrous for us and for those around us. This kind of friend helps us develop a sense of humor about ourselves.

The fourth kind of friend is the inspirer who helps us to be all that we can be, true and transparent. The inspirer helps to bring out the best in us.

With these kinds of friends, we can keep on track to withstand the attacks against the truth. We need to stand together.  It is every person’s responsibility to save our democracy.

 

Barbara Mayer O.S.B.