Daily Divine: Giving each other space

You’ve probably heard the saying “familiarity breeds contempt”?
 
Yet in the tiny Oregon town where I live, I’ve found that familiarity breeds respect.
 
It’s not about homogeneity or cultural sameness, either. The people here don’t get along because they’re similar to each other.
 
In fact, they’re not similar at all.
 
Race, religion, background, belief—whoa! It’s all a very big mix in this farming/college community an hour south of Portland.  
 
But because every one knows each other in a familiar, day-to-day way—as neighbors, workers, families—everyone gives each other a lot of leeway.
 
We give each other space.
 
At the town pub, our diversity shines out.
 
The pub is trendy, because we’re a commuter town to Portland, and all that Tumblr rubs off. The pub serves trendy things like micro brews and cherry ketchup and hemp burgers, and the waiters wear hipster clothes: vests and watch chains and long curling waxed mustaches.
 
It’s hip, it’s happening, a gathering place!
 
So here we all are, bringing our great diversity, all our differences…
 
We mix it up. We give each other space. We pass the cherry ketchup.
 
And we blend and mingle and create a vibration that’s so much more interesting than homogenized sameness. 

Much love, 
SARA

P.S. Will you be coming with me on the 2018 Beyond Words Cruise?