When it comes to home improvement projects, there is one project that I truly have a love-hate relationship with and that is painting. I love using the roller and covering a lot of space in as short of time as possible. I will even settle for using a large brush if a roller is not available. My wife does all the intricate cutting in around the windows, doors and trim. Probably because it takes such focus and attention to detail which is tough when my ADHD takes over and I just want to be done.
While paint rollers work great for large open walls, it takes a much smaller brush to paint a masterpiece. To truly paint a masterpiece or a piece of art, for most canvases it requires the intricate work that comes with using a small brush and not covering the entire canvas at once.
Recently, it seems that it is becoming easier and easier to paint over entire groups of people with generalizing broad stroke. All Conservatives are this. All Liberals are this. All Christians are this. All Muslims are this. And while there may be a large contingency of each group that fit the generalization, to automatically assume that the entire group fits into that generalizing statement is unfair and dangerous.
I think the reason we are quick to try and paint an entire group in with one generalizing statement is that it appears to removes any responsibility on my part to get to know someone from the “other side.” If I can paint the entire other side as my enemy, then I don’t need to spend my time really listening to their story. I no longer have any reason to enter into their life and see what they are dealing with on a day to day basis. Rather than get to know the life behind the label, I just paint the entire label with my generalization.
And every group has been guilty of assuming the worst about those who disagree or have a different viewpoint.
It is hard work to put aside assumptions and get to know the person not just the label. And there are always those who do not always fit the generalization even though they ascribe to a certain set of beliefs. Knowing a story forces you to move away from the quick work of broad strokes and into the intricate detail of taking your time.
In Scripture, Jesus hardly ever (he’s pretty rough on the Pharisees) lets a label become the deciding factor for how he will treat an individual. Instead he chooses to look into their story. He gets to know the person behind the label and it is that which makes all the difference.
Simply put, broad strokes work really well with painting. It gets the room done quick as long as there isn’t much detail work that needs to be attended to. However, broad strokes rarely if ever work when it comes to people and people groups. It takes into fact that which is mere assumptions and builds a barrier between my life and the lives of those I am choosing to cover with one broad sweeping generalization.
Today is a new day and its another chance to choose to look past the generalizing statements and choose to do the hard intricate work of getting to know the “other side.” Who do you need to go spend time with and learn their story?
