Step into my world
See into my heart
My mind and soul to grasp
I’ve been shaped by my past
A person I am
See
An individual
Unique
Questions needing answers
No formulas please
I am not a machine
My needs are for me
Have compassion and listen
With your ears and your heart
Not imposing your opinion
Then we can start
Have you ever had anyone try to push their opinions on you? Try and persuade you to think as they do? Whether it be politics, religion, diet, culture – whatever? I think we all have. I know I have.
As a Christian, I have a firm belief in a world-view based on the Bible. I firmly believe in it, not as a ‘religion’, but as a historical document and love letter. My faith, however is based on a relationship with God, not on rules. And when I look at Jesus – the way he lived his life, treated people, taught – I don’t see a forcing of opinion. He never forced himself on anyone, nor did he debate and argue to try to persuade others of his opinion. I see a humble, gentle, loving, compassionate peace-maker. He led by example and walked what he talked.
So then, that’s what I want to do. See people with eyes of compassion. Listen to people’s hearts and maybe not even say a word, but just be there. Every person in an individual. Everyone is unique. We are not machines, but unique social individuals that hunger for relationship.
So back to you. Have you had anyone try to push their opinions on you? How did it make you feel? Did you feel like you weren’t being heard or understood? As if what you think and feel don’t matter?
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stacilys.wordpress.com 
Staci, you hit the nail on the head in a gentle but persuasive way. We all have opinions and ideas. Do we push them on others or invite them to watch and follow?
Exactly David. Couldn’t agree more.
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Yes, it happens all of the time. Sometimes in the guise of being “pc”. I have my convictions in life, and live by a set of rules that I find honorable and righteous. In todays world, there is such push back on what is right and what is wrong, as if they held no definition. I maintain that there is right and wrong and we should live our lives accordingly.
Hey Rob. At first I didn’t understand what “pc” was, then after thinking for a moment I got it.
Couldn’t agree more, my friend. Post-modern and thought, relativity and humanism seems to throw absolute truth and morals out the window. The end of it all can only lead to chaos.
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That’s what I fear the most, the chaos/anarchy that will be sure to follow. What kind of world will my children live in?
Scary thought indeed Rob. What kind of world will our children live in eh?
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i like that. see people with eyes of compassion. i think we sometimes forget that… i’m thankful to read these much needed reminders. =)
btw i really enjoy your praise song, “Para Pra Ouvir…” Are you singing in Portuguese?
Awww thanks Soapie. Actually, I only sing in Portuguese at the end. I did an English version to the original of this song because I was asked by the composers. We recorded it together, so the girl singing in Portuguese is the original writer.
And yes, it’s so easy to forget to look with eyes of compassion. Especially if we aren’t necessarily feeling up to it.
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yes!!!!!!! You took my words 🙂
I’m so glad we’re on the same page then Yazmin.
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Well said. Christ is my example also. I try to not get involved when people push their views and I try not to push my views on others. I hope I’m living my life so that it is evidence of my views without me pushing on anyone. I have a brother who is not a Christian and he loves to push his views. It’s odd that he usually uses the current politically correct buzz words in his defense of his views. There’s little intelligent thought when a person simply latches onto a buzz word as a defense (he’s actually very intelligent!)
Hi Cynthia. Thanks for sharing.
“he usually uses the current politically correct buzz words in his defense of his views.”
–I think people like to think they truly agree with a cause. And then they use these buzz words in a way to sound ‘intelligent’ or participate in that cause.
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I love this post and the beauty of your soul has always been obvious to me. I’ve been on both sides and realize that you cannot push opinions onto others. What right I have to think my opinions are more right than another? It’s a tough thing to keep in balance. I get angry when someone pushes their opinions onto me but I get extremely frustrated when I am not being heard or understood. It’s a fine line 😉
Awwww, thank you so much cutie. You bless me with such kind words.
I too have been on both sides. I think that once you get to a certain age, and have a certain amount of life experience under your belt, you really do come to realize that you can’t push your opinions. And even understand, that if someone is pushing their opinions on you, there’s no use trying to ‘get through to them’. Yup, it really is a fine line.
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Unfortunately, it happens all the time. And many times it is with well-meaning Christians. I have seen them witnessing when a blind man with a sty in his eye could see it was serving no purpose other than making everyone feel uncomfortable. I have had the privilege of winning people to Christ. But everyone of them, in one way or another, showed me they were like a ripe watermellon just waiting to be tapped. I always remember the scripture that says, “No man comes onto Me unless he is first drawn by the Father.”
I couldn’t agree more Richard. It’s not our work, but His. Thank you for sharing this beautiful reflection.
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Staci, Seeing people through the eyes of compassion–an excellent and generous wisdom. Thank you. Xo
You are too kind Chloe. I so love reading your material and feel so humbled that you should think of my writing as an excellent and generous piece of wisdom.
Bless you.
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Have you had anyone try to push their opinions on you?
heh, more times than i care to remember, and when i was younger , trying to figure out my place in the world this was a larger issue. but thee days, i just don’t believe one adult can change another adult’s mind, so i live by the old maxim, ‘silence is the better part of valor’.
a very engaging post Stacy, hope you have a wonderful day!
Yes, I totally agree. I have never read that quote before, ‘silence is the better part of valor’. One thing that I have been learning in the past year (or two) is that there is great wisdom in silence. Everyone has an opinion and it’s no use arguing and debating. I just learned that once again today at a big family lunch over at my in-laws. It totally had to do with a cultural issue. I’m not from north-east Brazil, but Canada. And my way of raising my children and teaching them to make right choices are not always understood under certain circumstances. Hmmmmm.
Thank you for your encouragement.
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oh…now that’s as loaded an issue as politics and religion lol, and with the cross cultural divide i can imagine a whole host of differing opinions on the subject of raising kids. it sounds like you survived intact !lol
My father often used to force his opinions on me and tell me that my own were not valid because they did not fit in with his. It has taken a long time and is still a work in progress, but I am beginning to move on from the damaging effect he had on my formative years.
Great post, Staci
I’m so sorry to hear that Heather. It is especially damaging when it comes from a parent or close family member. I know how it is to not have the support or understanding of my father.
Thank you for the encouragement Heather.
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You’re very welcome. I sometimes worry that I over-share about some things but I like how thought-provoking your posts are and they compel me to answer honestly – even if sometimes I surprise myself with my comments 🙂
You don’t have to worry about thing Heather. I appreciate your honesty and for being vulnerable. Oftentimes that’s how healing comes.
Thank you so much for your kind words too. I really appreciate it and really appreciate you too. 🙂
Thank you… And you’re very welcome xxxx
It is nice to meet someone who feels the same way I do about her faith and relationships. One of the biggest turn-offs to me as a young athiest was christians handing out tracts and pushing the steps to salvation and sinner’s prayer. I didn’t know much about Jesus back then, but I never pictured him quite like that. It was people like you who connected, listened, tried to help–who made a difference in my beliefs, so that eventually I became a christian too. I used to feel guilty or “less than” when I avoided the evangelism groups at church, until finally Jesus told me that he didn’t want me to be like them in the first place. As I came to a place of accepting the idea that he will work through me just by me being me with people, that I’d end up reaching people the evangelists would never reach. . .well, long story short, I’m pretty confident now in who I am and am no cookie cutter christian. It is a rich journey; I love it!
Thank you for sharing your experience Joan. Yea, I totally did not have a Christian upbringing. And the ‘evangelists’ that tried to share with me on the streets downtown never got to me either. I had to come to a place in my life where I started asking the questions that all people ask: Where did I come from? Where am I going when I die? Why do I fear death? and so on. I was seeking Truth and I really believe that God brought the right people into my path and into my life. It was all really quite divine.
Thanks again Joan.
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I can see why God would want you in his close circle. 🙂
Awwwwww, you’re sweet. Thank you for your kind words.
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Like everyone yes and many times. But I’ve learned to pick my fights. If I see there’s a way of expressing my opinion and debating the other’s, then I voice it. But when I see that the person is not even interested in listening to the other side, I just let them talk, no point in arguing…that doesn’t mean I’m convinced though 😉
That’s great, and very wise too I think. Why go ahead and waste steam on someone that’s not even willing to listen? No point, right? Now if the other is open to discussion, then it’s a whole other thing. I need to learn from you and start keeping my mouth shut more often when there’s just no willingness to understand my point of view (especially living in a different culture than the one I grew up in).
Thank you so much for reading and sharing MDF.
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You’re welcome beautiful ❤️