Like Minded People

Like minded people is a phrase that a friend used not long ago in a group setting as he shared a recent experience with a gathering of friends who were, as he put it, "like minded". Being like- minded obviously gave him comfort in that particular social gathering. Understandable enough for sure. I think it's pretty natural for all of us to be drawn to those we consider to be like- minded people, especially in a social setting. But his statement, although casual, struck me for some reason. And it has been rattling around in my crazy brain ever since.

I too like and feel comfortable in a setting of like-minded people; who wouldn't. But the thoughts that kept coming into my mind revolved around the possibility, and perhaps even probability, that because of that very comfort of like-mindedness, do we all too easily at times limit ourselves to the company of like-minded people, and in so doing also limit our mindsets in ways that possibly self-restrict us from potential growth opportunities in our lives, our thinking, and our friendships?

This is particularly evident to me of late in our current socio-political thinking. I am as guilty as anyone of easily limiting myself to seeking the comfortable environment of like-minded people. But, due to various circumstances in my own life, I often find myself in the midst of people who are perhaps not so like-minded as me. I could easily resist these encounters, but in doing so I would effectively limit myself to the safety of like-mindedness, and that "safety" would be just that - limiting. I choose instead not to live that way. I find value in experiencing thought processes that are perhaps not in line with my own. That doesn't mean I have to agree with those thoughts, but I am learning from those experiences that it is important to hear them. And, not only to hear them, but also to not immediately seek an argument against them, an all too easy human tendancy.

I am a strong believer in individual thinking vs. following the crowd, individual identity vs. group identity, individual responsibility vs. group mentality, and perhaps most important sharing vs. arguing. I am blessed to be around both like-minded and not so like-minded people, and somewhere in the midst of both able, perhaps blessed, to find joint understandings and perhaps even a freshening of purpose in our lives. Perhaps it's actually better to be like-purposed than like-minded.

The world at the moment seems to be either searching for real truth or searching for ways to create or justify their own truth. Truth is truth, and nothing can change that. But, there seems to be a lot of gray fog out there that we all have to work through to find it. Often there are great barriers to agreeing on what truth actually is. Biblically there is only one Truth, and that Truth "will set us free". (John 8:32). Also, "if you love, or perhaps agree with, (only) those who love you, what reward have you.....? And if you greet only your own (like-minded) people, what do you do more than others?" (Matthew 5:46-47)

In these tumultuous times we are currently experiencing there seems to be a push to divide us in the name of uniting us, to catagorically group us rather than respect and love one another as individuals, to erase history rather than to face and learn from it. We all have experienced the lessons we learn from our own mistakes, possibly our most meaningful learning source. We are all imperfect people. Part of that imperfection is to assume some level of personal perfection when faced with the thoughts of someone who is not like-minded

Like-mindedness is perhaps all too comfortable, so comfortable that it can easily become close-mindedness, which can lead us comfortably unchallenged to step outside of our individual comfort zones.

Outside of my own various comfort zones is the place where I have personally learned some of my most needed life lessons. That is where I am faced with challenges, challenges that I perhaps would not have chosen to face, but challenges that give me opportunities to open up and hopefully grow just a little in some way.

It's so easy and comfortable to stand firm in our like-mindedness, easy to go along with the group. But "group-think" has the capacity to suppress individual thought. That doesn't mean it will, but the capacity to do so is certainly there. It's often so much easier to go along with the group than to challenge it, but the reality is it's in the challenge itself where thought opens up, growth happens, and the beauty of community thrives.

Maybe like-hearted would be more rewarding and fulfilling than like-minded. After all "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Blessings <><

David Butler

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