Stephen, Matt and I went on a walk with Georgia today. What I have always loved about Matt on our family walks and hikes is he doesn’t hesitate to try a new path. Just because one path is marked, he always sees there can be a different route to get to the same destination.

I share this with you today because sometimes we see others doing things differently and think their way is wrong. Yet that’s not always the case. Something that shows this truth is something I learned this summer, the principle of 4.

0 + 4 =4

1 + 3 =4

2 + 2 =4

Here are three different equations that each get us to the same answer. And this is also true in so many areas of life. We may do things differently than others, yet it doesn’t necessarily make our way right and others wrong, or vice versa. There are different paths to the same outcome, like Matt reminded me in the walk today.

The next time we find ourself judging someone for doing something the “wrong way,” or feel judged by others for doing things differently, let’s choose to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we ask ourselves, is what they or what I am doing wrong, or is it just a different path to the same outcome? By doing this, may we gain a greater appreciation for one another and our differences, like I was able to do today when I stepped back and watched Matt take the path less traveled.

With love and hope,
Shawn