There are distinctions between each of us. Some distinctions we share with others. We take people with shared distinctions and draw a circle around them, marking them as a group. Circles can be based on almost anything. Geography, gender, race, religion, politics, profession, and hobbies are just some categories of circles we draw around people. As individuals we sit in many circles.

Today is St. Patrick’s Day when being Irish is celebrated around the world. A circle drawn based on nationality.

Where some circles are celebrated others are condemned. There is currently a flood of refugees and migrants into Europe. People from other parts of the world seeking a better life. Yet, circles have been drawn around them – refugees, migrants – and the circles have been condemned.

It is not easy to look from the circle we sit within and understand the people in a circle we do not share. Yes, there are distinctions between us but those distinctions need not cause fear. A distinction may be based on arbitrary circumstance yet beside that circumstance we have much in common. We sit in many circles. It is inevitable that when we sit in many circles some will be shared with those sit in the circles we fear.

Look for the circles we share not for the lines that separate us.