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How ecological thinking can strengthen our democracy.

“Mommy, are those worms going to hurt me?” she asked. I reassured her, explaining that worms are harmless and beneficial to the garden. I explained that they help decompose organic matter and enrich the soil. This interaction sparked a new interest in her for worms.

The story of a 6-year-old overcoming her fear of bugs is a powerful metaphor for how we can bridge divides and foster understanding. The child’s initial fear, like political polarization, is a deeply rooted and often irrational response to a perceived threat. The child’s journey to overcome her fear, however, is a testament to the power of empathy, patience, and gradual exposure.

It encompasses all living organisms, from microscopic bacteria to towering trees, and includes the genetic diversity within each species. Genetic diversity within a species is the variation in genes that make up an organism’s DNA. Genetic diversity is crucial for adaptation and resilience, allowing species to survive and thrive in changing environments.

We are called to live out this image by fostering relationships, building community, and engaging in acts of love and service. This is not just a call to charity, but a call to be in relationship with God and with each other. This understanding of God’s relational nature and our own relational nature as image bearers of God leads us to a deep commitment to social justice.

This is a powerful example of how empathy, a key component of emotional intelligence, can transform a negative experience into a positive one. Empathy allows us to step into another person’s shoes and understand their perspective, even if we don’t share their feelings. It fosters a sense of connection and compassion, leading to more positive interactions and a deeper understanding of ourselves and others. Empathy is not just a feeling; it’s a skill that can be learned and developed.

Advertisement We can start by attending to the body. Despite the diversity of views about what is good, we can confidently maintain that there are certain things all living beings need for their physical flourishing: water, food, rest, safe shelter, health care, freedom, and so on. These require systemic recognition of bodies as goods to be nurtured, and policies ensuring access to these universal needs are more effective in reducing abortion rates, for example, than laws attempting to prohibit abortion directly. Further, they require a reciprocal understanding that overconsumption and inequity are unsustainable, so the health of the planet is an integral consideration.

This shift in perspective allows us to see the interconnectedness of our lives and the impact of our actions on others. This understanding fosters a sense of responsibility and accountability, leading to more effective and sustainable policies. The reorientation of the political conversation towards practical concerns and shared realities fosters a more collaborative and inclusive approach to policymaking.

This approach to community building emphasizes the importance of shared experiences and tangible actions. It moves away from abstract concepts and theoretical discussions, focusing instead on the practicalities of living in a shared space. It fosters a sense of shared responsibility and collective action, encouraging individuals to contribute to the building of a more sustainable and equitable society. The summary highlights the benefits of embodied action in community building.

This article also appears in the October 2024 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 89, No. 10, pages 21-22). Click here to subscribe to the magazine. Image: Unsplash/Julian Zwengel

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