True diplomacy doesn’t happen without extending intentional efforts to connect. The world is made up of opportunities to collide and make grace filled connections. When different worlds can move beyond mere collisions, no longer leading to division and dissension; those very same collisions can be made in to meaningful connections with one another that allow for both parties to be heard as well as experience each other’s world. This is when diplomacy is most present. Worlds that collide and connect can be a very beautiful thing.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from the Birmingham Jail
The above quote speaks to what kind of mentality we should have in our approach to diplomacy.
I just watched a remarkable movie over the weekend called The Hundred Foot Journey (the title is symbolic of the distance they have to cross to be a part of each other’s worlds). The movie is about an Indian family from Mumbai who moves to a small village in France in search of place to plant roots and open an Indian restaurant (Yes, in France). The family ends up purchasing a restaurant/home right across from a very famous French restaurant. At first these two families are colliding vehemently, and sometimes violently; their only connection is their dislike for other. However, by midway through the movie they’ve realized their need for each other, that whatever affected one affected them all; their businesses, and their families.
So often we don’t realize our need for others in our diplomacy efforts. We often don’t acknowledge what someone else has to offer us. We approach matters as educators only and not people in need of an education. Our lack of humility will be our downfall. Admitting ignorance is essential to diplomacy, and reflects humility. It says that we are willing to put ourselves in a position to follow, and to be taught (their culture, their way of life; to be Christ incarnate among them). When we follow, allowing ourselves to be taught by someone who may or may not have the same belief system, it changes our perspective. We are no longer enslaved to a single story. In our willingness to follow and be taught; listening and learning opportunities will arise. I’m not saying that we abandon our own beliefs, but that we look for opportunities to listen, and share our beliefs in a way that keeps the conversation going. Of course collisions will happen along the way, but any relationship that’s built on a foundation of mutual respect…where we value the other person as much as we value ourselves and our need to be right, will ultimately end in grace filled connections.
Once we’ve followed, then we’ll earn the right to be teachers, to be diplomats, to go to every nation creating Disciples of Christ, not ourselves. True Diplomacy for Christians stems from a realization that Christ has created us all in his image, and values us all greatly. We know this because he sent his son Jesus to die for all, while we were still soaking in our sins. We all have a value that’s been pre-determined no matter our belief system. Our diplomacy efforts must reflect the value that God has placed on every life. It must take in to account that whatever injustice or hardship that affects the one, does affect all indirectly. We are all connected.
My Two Cents 
“by midway through the movie they’ve realized their need for each other, that whatever affected one affected them all; their businesses, and their families.”
So are we halfway through the movie yet?
Your observation is important in real-life. We all need to arrive at this realization and as you say and be “extending intentional efforts to connect.” Our society is structured to hide our interdependency so that we may never notice it. But once we see behind the curtain we can no longer deny our connectedness and shared interests.
I hope our halfway happens sooner rather than later. Actually, I think we’ve reached this point in our cohort. Our eyes have been opened to not only each others experiences, but the experiences of those around us. Our connectedness and shared interest can no longer be denied. Now, we have to make a choice. Do we choose to walk in obedience; loving one another & walking with each other at all cost, or do we walk away out of frustration?
Well, Professor Ashley, I am learning from you. As you said, “When we follow, allowing ourselves to be taught by someone who may or may not have the same belief system, it changes our perspective. We are no longer enslaved to a single story.” I am so grateful that you are in our cohort! In fact, this cohort has blessed me in more ways than I can count for the very reasons you stated above. We may be somewhat reminiscent of that bar scene in Star Wars, but we are at the same table, yes?
Speaking of tables, BTW, during the cohort week we talked about Thanksgiving at our home. You are invited!
Our cohort is such a blessing. We are all at the same table…learning from one another.
Thank you for the reminder about Thanksgiving. We’re actually planning a Thanksgiving dinner here on campus for students and families that are remaining in the area over the holiday. However depending on what time our dinner ends I would love to come over. I’ll let you know.
Ours starts at 5:00PM and ends with a party that goes to at least 11… so you are welcome whenever you can get here.
Great perspective, Ashley. The relationality of Trinitarian thought and the mutuality inherent in the Incarnation come through loud and clear, without the fog of vocabulary that I would have felt compelled to include. The underlying challenge for me, though, is in the interaction of our dual topics: Diplomacy and Unity. While nearly all Christians would hold to the “realization that Christ has created us all in his image,” I wonder if all of us see that He “values us all greatly.” Where some feel that our value has been predetermined as individuals, some valued more highly and some valued more lowly, they seem to assume that such predeterminations apply to whether or not someone has responded or will eventually respond to the gospel’s claims on their lives. From my perspective, I would answer your post, “Hallelujah and Amen!” But what do I do with my Christian brothers and sisters whose “diplomacy efforts” are hindered because they hold to a wide variation in “the value that God has placed on every life?” Thank you for a challenging post.
Ashley, Wow, what a beautiful piece, so powerfully presented and clearly stated. Connecting is so much easier than colliding, and a lot less painful, I might add. Why haven’t we figured this out before now? I agree with what you all said about the cohort, we are better than half way there. Oh, What a blessing to be in fellowship with all of you. It feels like we are becoming CHRIST-ans.
I love this quote: “We are no longer enslaved to a single story.” We need connection and when we do not have it for whatever reason we experience relational deficits that affect both parties. What a beautiful reminder that your story is mine, and mine yours.