Can We Talk?

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Romans 14:19

We see it all over media.  We hear it in conversations. We have become quite the argumentative lot, with everyone shouting how THEY are right and everyone who disagrees is WRONG, blocking streets, burning, looting, lots of yelling and carrying on, dashing about like ants whose nest has been disturbed.

How do such blasting arguments help us come together for peace and mutual building up?

I stopped to get some fuel for my car shortly after the inauguration.  I was wearing my Chaplain's shirt, and was just standing there trying to get the price to an even number (I won't say I have OCD tendencies, but it bugs me if I can't reach that even number), and a man at the pump ahead of me started shouting "You're just wrong!"  I thought he was talking to someone on the phone, or talking to his radio, or someone else because I was only pumping gas into a car.  He continued to berate the person I didn't know louder and angrier, lacing his diatribe with quite the collection of profanities.  He finished filling his car and then stormed over to me and continued to shout right at me, telling me how wrong I was.

He finally stopped long enough to take a breath, and I asked him what I had done to offend him so badly.  His reply was another colorful oratory about how cops are evil and abuse power. When he stopped for another breath, I asked him if I could speak for just a moment and then he was free to shout all he wished.  He looked shocked, so I took that opportunity to point to the badge on my shirt which bears a cross and above the badge the word CHAPLAIN is quite evident.  I informed him that I carry no weapons on my person in my role and I arrest no one.  Our discussion into my job was getting rather lengthy so I offered to buy him a cup of coffee while we talked.  

In the end, he understood that not everyone is out to get him and not everyone who sees life differently is evil.  When we parted company, we shook hands and smiled.  And all it really took was talking AND listening.  You see, we seem to want to do all the talking and not a lot of listen.  Point being, what if I'm wrong AND you're wrong....but neither of us is completely wrong, we just need to find some common ground?