A Day of Tolerance

We are living in a world of constant change, of ebb and flow, of becoming. As spiritual directors, you hold the grace of accompanying others on their journey of jostle and stride, like watching a stone become smooth and radiant by the soft tumble of water. In your attending and listening, you fashion a holy space for all seasons of emotions, where each nudging has its place and each feeling has voice.

Today, the United Nations and member states around the world celebrate the International Day of Tolerance. Founded in 1996, this day promotes the importance of mutual respect and acceptance of all “ways of being human.” According to the Declaration on Tolerance, “People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe.” Tolerance, like spiritual direction, creates a space where the rich becoming in life can flourish.

To honor this day of tolerance around the world, Spiritual Directors International encourages you to take a few minutes to honor the grains of sand that have turned you over and over and changed the way you encounter the world. In An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life, the Dalai Lama writes: “The slice of bread we eat had to be baked by someone. The wheat had to be planted by someone else and, after irrigation and fertilization, had to be harvested and then milled into flour. …Even our personal virtues, such as our patience and ethical sense, are all developed in dependence upon others. We can even come to appreciate that those who cause us difficulty are providing us with the opportunity to develop tolerance.”

Who has brought you the opportunity to embrace tolerance lately? Where in your heart do you honor that relationship today? Indeed, we are all learning, all tumbling, all changing. Your awareness of tolerance is cultivating compassion in the world today.