Both my wife and I enjoy hiking. Since we aren’t young anymore, we can’t go too far. We have to be careful, especially when going uphill and downhill. However, in many National Parks, some scenic spots cannot be reached without hiking. So, I often remind myself about the race between the tortoise and the hare. It’s OK to go slow. Eventually, I’ll get there. The problem is that the two of us are different in our physical strength, and my wife is prone to altitude sickness. If I lead, I’ll often leave her far behind. Therefore, we agree she should walk in the front, and I’ll accommodate her pace.
Accommodating each other during hiking is not difficult. Yet what about if the difference is in height? Some time ago I went to a Mongolian barbecue restaurant. An enormous round metal cooktop with a diameter of seven or eight feet sat in the middle. Guests waited along a raised circular counter and waited for the chef to cook each person’s choice of raw meat, mixed vegetables, and noodles on the hot cooktop. A child on his toes, only tall enough to see the chef, was waiting, too. When his portion was done, I noticed the chef didn’t just drop the dish on the counter but reached over the counter to hand the dish to the child. I really appreciated the chef’s empathy. He tried his best to accommodate the child.
I once read a book about how to educate children. It mentioned that when adults talk to children, don’t just bend over. If possible, stoop down. When your eyes are at the same level as children’s, they will more likely see you as equal and not consider you a threat. Immediately you can build rapport. If we want to have positive relationships, we need to remind ourselves that we need to accommodate each other. Let adults accommodate children, the strong accommodate the weak, and the fast accommodate the slow.
Accommodation is not a sign of weakness, but an expression of tenderness, love, and respect. Everyone who practices martial arts understands the principle of power in gentleness. With people, the most important thing is to win the heart, not the argument. If you can earn the respect and trust of the other party, it is easier to negotiate and work out things. Of course, everything must be done with sincerity. Otherwise, it’s hypocrisy. Being accommodating and considerate often builds good relationships.
Pastor Ken 2022
