And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Luke 11:4
Which Traveller Are We?
Many years ago I heard this parable.
As a traveller approached a town, he stopped to ask a farmer, “What are the people like here?”
The farmer replied, “What were the people like in the town you have just left?”
“Oh, they were kind, generous and hospitable. Sure, they had their flaws, but don’t we all,” said the man.
“You will probably find the same here,” said the farmer.
A little later, another traveller came along and asked the same question.
Again, the farmer asked, “What were the people like in the town you have just left?”
“They were rude, selfish and unwelcoming,” she replied.
The farmer nodded. “You will probably find the same here.”
The town had not changed. The people had not changed. What differed was the spirit in which each traveller entered it.
We often find what we expect to find. If we approach others with suspicion, we notice every slight. If we approach them with warmth, we are more likely to notice kindness. Our expectations shape our attention, and sometimes even shape the response we receive.
This does not mean that all people are kind, or that cruelty should be ignored. It means that wherever we go, we carry something of ourselves with us.
Before asking what the people around us are like, it may be worth asking what we bring to them.
Sometimes, if we want to find a kinder world, the best place to begin is by becoming a kinder traveller.