Encountering Others, Encountering Self

Earlier today, your humble blogger came across this insightful preaching on today's BIble readings in the Catholic Church

https://youtu.be/wVcTrzNU_vw?si=Uhsz_66RwcbaRhs7

What really hit home were the following quotes on the positive attributes of not putting people into boxes:

To be in conversation is to be open to conversion. We can be changed by understanding the other person’s point of view. We can grow in compassion and empathy when we listen to the reality of another person’s life. We can see things differently when we listen to their spoken truth and shared wisdom.

Familiarity doesn't have to breed contempt. It can also be the doorstep to deepening relationship. Deepening relationship is the threshold of encounter with another and with the Divine.

 Given that we're social beings, it seems logical that listening to and growing in compassion and empathy towards another person doesn't only entail seeing things differently for their sake, but one's own. In other words, there is a plausibility to the idea that one can encounter one's self when encountering another. One opens themself to areas where they may have put themselves in a box. And in getting into the the open space that is encounter, they can deepen relationship with themself as they deepen relationship with the " other", letting go of any boxes that limit.

How many times do we think we know ourselves too well, only to see something we didn't know was inside brought out when encountering someone we've labeled "other"? Of course,  this is not talking about situations where real psychological or physical harm can occur.  It is worth considering,  though,  that we might encounter ourselves when we encounter someone who pushes us outside our comfort zone.