This week’s Reflections was written by the Rev. Larry Ort, retired Episcopal priest

Henri Nouwen, one of my favorite spiritual writers, once wrote, “Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world, and in the life to come.”

As Christians we are called to sow love as we work to promote the kingdom of God. It is not easy to love someone who radically disagrees with your position. We tend to want to dismiss them as ignorant and uninformed.

Some years ago, an acquaintance told me I was stupid when I refused to agree with his position. I reminded him that I possessed a Ph.D. in philosophy; hence, I was already aware of my ignorance. Everyone had a good laugh! We were members of a diverse coffee group which met every week; although I did not agree with him, I loved that old curmudgeon. I mourned his death when he passed. We shared enough conversations and humorous stories to realize we agreed on far more than we disagreed. The coffee group served to bring us together.

There is great value in drinking a favorite beverage together, in sharing a common table, with others with whom you may disagree. The only way we can reduce hatred, short of killing our enemy, is to heal others through expressions of love. We need to create more opportunities for such sharing.

In Colossians 3.12-13, we read: “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

In this election cycle, may I do more than condemn those with whom I disagree. May I seek to understand their position, and the experiences and feelings behind their position. May we find some common ground over common grounds.