Conquering Mt. Dialog
Two people were climbing the same mountain, each for their own reasons and with their own agendas.
It was a high and narrow mountain ridge that was topped by a cold and jagged boney spine. The climb was hard and tiring, but they pressed on. One by one their agendas, becoming dead weight, were left behind.
Finally after many hours, they approached the narrow ridge…one from the East the other from the West…until they were sitting together in the cold thin air, drinking in the breathtaking view, far below.
Each is able to look down and see where they have been and where the other has been. They had made it to the top of Mt Dialog!
It has been said that two monologues do not make a dialogue. In a relationship; when two Middle East Countries meet; in labor negotiations, or words between political parties, we see a lack of real dialogue…. and in its place we find a collection of monologues.
I used to think it would be fun to have them trade speeches and read them aloud.
Having two people together, in the same place, at the same time, with mutual goals, is no guarantee that dialogue will take place.
Genuine dialogue takes effort and is a rare and mysterious state. But when it is present, we know it.
Two people were climbing the same mountain, each for their own reasons and with their own agendas.
It was a high and narrow mountain ridge that was topped by a cold and jagged boney spine. The climb was hard and tiring, but they pressed on. One by one their agendas, becoming dead weight, were left behind.
Finally after many hours, they approached the narrow ridge…one from the East the other from the West…until they were sitting together in the cold thin air, drinking in the breathtaking view, far below.
Each is able to look down and see where they have been and where the other has been. They had made it to the top of Mt Dialog!
It has been said that two monologues do not make a dialogue. In a relationship; when two Middle East Countries meet; in labor negotiations, or words between political parties, we see a lack of real dialogue…. and in its place we find a collection of monologues.
I used to think it would be fun to have them trade speeches and read them aloud.
Having two people together, in the same place, at the same time, with mutual goals, is no guarantee that dialogue will take place.
Genuine dialogue takes effort and is a rare and mysterious state. But when it is present, we know it.
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