In East Africa live tiny creatures called Naked Mole Rats. They are not very attractive; they kind of look like nightcrawlers with buck teeth. What is impressive about naked mole rats are their social skills and language capabilities. Each naked mole-rat colony speaks its distinct dialect recognizable only by its members. This unique characteristic puts naked mole rats in a small club of animals known to have dialects, including whales and humans.
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways to refer to two different types of linguistic phenomena: One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language’s speakers. The other use of the term “dialect” specific to the informal setting.¹
As you read these sentences, notice how your mind reacts to each one:²
Only by raising your vibrational frequency will you ascend from 3D to 5D.
Only by taking Jesus Christ as your savior will you be saved and go to heaven.
Only by experiencing the emptiness of all form will you become enlightened and reach nirvana.
Only by being in the present moment will you experience the power of the now.
Only by resolving your karma will you achieve moksha and escape samsara.
Only by cultivating unconditional love for all will you find true peace and happiness in life.
Now, be honest with yourself. Did you find yourself getting defensive, or at minimum wanting to say, “but….?”
Let’s put this in perspective when you think about how divided we are as a nation. When we fail to realize that pluralism isn’t a thing; it just is, we respond negatively to people who don’t share the same dialect, including spiritual lingo. Our individualism and imperialistic tendencies take over, and we end up producing division, not unity.
How can we use inclusive dialect to help bring unity to our family, community, and nation? Not everybody is you; they don’t look like you, act like you, believe like you, enjoy the same things as you, they speak a different dialect, but yet, God created them as God created you. The minute you put “only” or “must” to any set of principles or actions, you create separation.
There are, though, a set of universal principles that apply to every human being. One of those principles is a smile. The smile has a universal dialect. There are different kinds of smiles, but their underlying meanings share universal qualities. We also have the double commandment, love God and love your neighbor. Regardless of where you live in the world, the dialect of agape love is universal. Humans can love because God first loved us. These universal principles should help us immensely if we are serious about justice, unity, and peace for everyone. Learn to smile, love God, and love your neighbor (meaning everyone), and it will go along way in helping unify our families, community, and nation.
Lord of light, I pray that unity may prevail in my family, community, and nation. Help me to be an instrument of Your peace. Please help us come together to resolve the issues that affect us all. Help us cooperate well in overcoming health issues and prejudice. May we each bring our experiences and our expertise to the table and work out solutions together. Please help us to listen well, to empathize, and brainstorm the best path for everyone. Amen.³
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