As we reach out to one another in empathy and love, our diversity can unite us.
I love Berlin. Of all the wonderful places in the world, it’s one of my favorites because of its rich human diversity. While living in Berlin, I brushed shoulders with people from all over the world and from all walks of life. My friends included people of different ages, races, nationalities, beliefs, and sexual orientations. We were all so unique, and yet we were bound together by our shared divine nature and humanity. This fact allowed us to reach out to one another in curiosity and genuine love and respect. Getting to know and love my Berlin friends left an indelible impact on me; it was one of the most enriching times in my life.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska
Stacey A. Shaw shares similar sentiments in her BYU devotional, “Your Path of Discipleship.” She explains that a vital part of true discipleship is recognizing the inherent worth of every person, including ourselves, by appreciating both the things that make us similar and the things that make us unique. “Finding what we have in common and what is unique about us,” she explains, “can help us appreciate our shared humanity as well as our individual gifts.”
Understanding the true worth of each child of God is an essential part of discipleship. As we come to truly value, understand, love, and respect God’s children, our capacity to follow Christ increases. Rather than fearing or shying away from the things that make us different, Professor Shaw encourages us to consider this question: “What gifts and visions do you bring to the challenges the world faces right now?” As we answer this question, we can cultivate the unique offerings we can contribute to the world.
Check out Professor Stacy A. Shaw’s full article “Your Path of Discipleship” to learn more about how our differences and similarities can help us foster unity and love.”
Source: BYU Speeches
—Karly Lay, Latter-day Saint Insights
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Find more insights
To learn more about God’s mindfulness of each of his unique children, check out Rebecca Purse’s article “Not Just a Hand-Me-Down Plan.”
For more about embracing diverse lives and experiences, read Anna Freeman’s article “You Were Meant to Be Different.”