Space

Space. The final frontier.

It’s a familiar phrase from decades of Star Trek iterations. But perhaps its most valuable application has nothing to do with space travel and everything to do with the present. Consider these two completely different scenarios.

Number 1

It is early November. A neighbor has, in their yard, a large blow-up turkey sitting on a knocked over, equally large Santa. Beside them sits a sign: “Wait your turn, fat boy!” Meanwhile, as I write this, my house is already outlined in icy red and white lights. Mantle greenery cradles both a nativity sculpture and Santa’s. A nine-foot Christmas tree tells the story of our life through ornaments. Look out on the patio ringed with pumpkins and squash, and you will see an elaborate autumn arrangement. Silk leaves of red, orange and yellow weave through dried fruits, gourds and ribbons.

At our house, it is Thanksmas – the annual amalgamation of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both are beloved holidays too close on the calendar to wring out every bit of joy in the time allotted. And I have enough space in my head, my heart and my home to embrace both holidays simultaneously.

Whether you celebrate each holiday separately or mash them together is inconsequential; however, there are times when space becomes crucial. Consider…

Number 2

Recently, I had occasion to attend a Gather Conference, where LGBTQ+ members of my faith come together to learn from and encourage each other. I had no idea what to expect. What I found was a group of people, earnest in their desire to navigate their identity within their faith, and full of compelling stories of both heartache and joy.

My own paradigm grew. Suddenly, there was space. Space for new information. Space for new friends. Space to suspend judgment — which was never truly mine to wield in the first place — and listen. I came away with an increased understanding of the difficulties in navigating these issues.

Our society is grappling with a number of cultural issues right now: immigration, school curriculum, free speech, abortion, homelessness, racism – the list is long. Increasingly, we construct barricades around these issues, consisting of dire pronouncements buttressed by our favored headlines or social media soundbites. We may feel safe behind these walls, but there is little space for compassion or understanding.

Thousands are employed churning out stories, posts, TikTok’s and Instagram’s. We consume them, rarely considering their motivation or bias and pass them on as truth. They act to further entrench us and/or inflame others.

What if the answer is easier. What if Space truly is the final frontier.

Creating space means we pause and suspend what we think we know while we listen and understand another’s viewpoint. Sometimes that means seeking out different sources or listening to those we don’t normally engage with. In doing so, we discover fellow travelers with different experiences and motivations instead of combatants. It’s much more difficult to demonize another’s beliefs if we have first taken the time to humanize and understand them.

Sometimes we find areas where we can agree. But even when there isn’t agreement, there is civility, respect and a lack of violence.  And that ultimately moves everyone forward into a better future.