"And" not "Either/Or"

In a world that cries for inclusion, the word "and" could make the difference for millions. When we shift our thinking from "either/or" to "and" we are doing a number of things. We are shifting from black and white thinking filled with judgment to a more expansive perspective of possibilities. We are moving from a fear based "me" thinking, to a more compassionate "we" prospective. We are actually creating new neural pathways from the reactive lower brain to the higher brain functions of the prefrontals where the mystical Oneness of all can be experienced.

In Dwight J. Friesen's book Thy Kingdom Connected . which we are reading for my Theology After Google class at Claremont School of Theology, there is a poem called "And" by Father Richare Rohr. He beautifully articulates the power of "and."

"And teaches us to say yes
And allows us to be both-and
And keeps us from either-or
And teaches us to be patient and long suffering
And is willing to wait for insight and integration
And keeps us from dualistic thinking
And does not divide the field of the moment
And helps us to live in the always imperfect now
And keeps us inclusive and compassionate toward everything
And demands that our contemplation become action
And insists that our action is also contemplative
And heals our racism, our sexism, heterosexism, and our classism
And keeps us from the false choice of liberal or conservative
And allows us to critique both sices of things
And allows us to enjoy both sides of things
And is far beyond any one nation or political party
And helps us face and accept our own dark side
And allows us to ask for forgiveness and to apologize
And is the mystery of pardox in all things
And is the way of mercy
And makes daily, practical love possible
And does not trust love if it is not also justice
And does not trust justice if it is not also love
And is far beyond my religion versus your religion
And allows us to be both distinct and yet united
And is the very Mystery of Trinity..."

In what areas in your life could you shift from "either/or" to "and" thinking?

What difference would that make in your life?

What difference might you see in the world?