Structured dialogues for learning in church settings can be an opportunity for the church to demonstrate to their community that while we might not all think alike, we continue to strive to love alike.TM2YC's Star Trek Reunion is the fan edit I have been most anticipating so far this year, and I am very happy to report the wait has been well worth it.
Rather, I’ll reiterate that in a partisan atmosphere and with anxieties high, structured dialogues for learning in church settings (where there is shared history and the common experience of grace) can be an opportunity for the church to demonstrate to their community that while we might not all think alike, we continue to strive to love alike.
While I could press this analogy further by observing that liberals seem like aliens to conservatives, and vice versa, I’ll refrain. Since I can’t harness that skill, I’ll have to continue working on my communication and listening skills with my wife and others. Unfortunately, the Vulcan mind meld is an ability reserved for the movies (unless Vulcans truly exist?). Dialogue is a more formalized process of listening to learn, uncovering assumptions, and building relationships. Too often our communication takes the form of argument (I win you lose), debate (aim to win), or even discussion (which is related to the word percussion). As Simmons advocates, “Dialogue offers us an opportunity to link our minds and blend what they know with what we know for a bigger picture and better understanding” (19). Courageous Conversations are structured dialogues for learning. Similarly, the Courageous Conversations project promotes dialogue as a necessary tool for improving communication and learning about contentious issues (political or otherwise) within a local church or churches. Spock is a Vulcan, for the non-Trekkie audience.) Simmons champions dialogue as a necessary practice for organizations to improve their communication and efficiency. (I do not want to insinuate that her thoughts are alien to me, but…)Īnnette Simmons, in her book A Safe Place for Dangerous Truths, makes this connection between communication and the “Vulcan mind meld.” (Mr. If I had this trick in my communication skills, my wife and I would have solved our minor dilemma (and countless others) in a flash. Spock could then discern an alien’s intentions and determine the appropriate response. While a Trekkie could probably explain this skill better than I can, Spock can telepathically read another person’s (usually an alien’s) thoughts by touching his hands to the individual’s forehead. At such times, it would help to have the skill of Spock from Star Trek. My guess is that you’ve probably experienced a similar dynamic in a recent conversation (or many times).
You might read that story and think my wife and I need counseling (it certainly never hurts). We (mostly just me) dug in our heels and made what should have been an easy message to communicate a more heated discussion than was warranted. When we realized we were talking past each other and not answering each other’s questions in the way the other desired, we (mostly just me) kept trying to explain our reasoning. Recently, my wife and I were attempting what should have been a simple act of communication. Even the simplest messages can be difficult to communicate.
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