I know a father and son team who own a local Chevy dealership. I’ve bought a number of vehicles from them in the past, but I switched to Ford about eleven years ago.
As much as it grates on them—I have that freedom. Every time I see them, they insist that they will get my butt into a Chevy again one day. And it’s possible. But right now, I’m quite enjoying my Fords. You see, both companies make some pretty great vehicles and also some real pieces of junk. I’m not overly invested in either auto maker, so I have the benefit of objectivity and make my vehicle choices by merit of functionality, reliability and price point.
Sometimes I wonder, as I drive my Ford superduty 4X4 with its 6.7L diesel twin turbo which produces a whopping 925 foot/lbs of torque…Does Doug (the Chevy guy) wish he could own a fine pick up like this? After all, everyone knows that Ford makes a better truck than Chevy!
I can say that, because I have driven both trucks, plus, I am opinionated 😁
I also wonder if the Ford guy wishes he could own one of those sweet 2020 mid-engine corvettes? Now THAT is a fine sports car! No Shelby cobra mustang ever made can touch it!
But the Ford guy can’t drive a Chevy. And the Chevy guy can’t drive a Ford. Why? They’re ENTIRELY invested in their respective brand. Their livelihood—even their identity is conflated with their kind of car.
Sounds a bit silly doesn’t it—until I ask you what political party you affiliate with and if you would ever consider voting for the other party! What would happen if I asked you what your religious affiliation is and if you would consider switching to a different one?
We all do it. We form our very identities around our family, country, brands, religious and political ideas—everything except who we really are. We feel the need to assume that we are on the “right” team and everyone else is wrong—and we defend our position to the bitter end because if I’m proven wrong…well then, who am I?
Ever notice how someone of a particular political ideology will just dig in deeper into the defence of their party the more you show them just how empirically corrupt their leader and party is? Ever had a conversation with a religious fundamentalist and explained to them the historical origin story of how their particular denomination developed its ideas and how it is indeed far removed from the actual teachings of Jesus? How did that go? I’ll bet they got pretty defensive and dug in further. Probably even unfriended you on facebook.
Aristotle—one of the great greek philosophers gave us this idea of dualism. That all of reality consists of competing opposites. In other words, everything has two sides—like a coin. Heads or tails. Good or evil. Right or wrong. Black or white. Republican or Democrat. Ford or Chevy.
Nothing in between.
Maybe he was wrong. Perhaps ultimate reality is more like a sphere. Perhaps there doesn’t have to be sides. Maybe democrats can embrace some of the ideals of the republicans and vice versa. Maybe Christians can learn from Buddhist’s, Hindus and Muslims.
Who are we really? My friend, Steve McVey puts it this way: “Know this: You are a person of great worth. Not because of what you do or know or possess. You have value because of who you are. You are a container and conduit of Divine Life. You are a sharer in the Divine Nature. You are Love in human form. Know that and you’ll be free from trying to milk love, acceptance and value from others. See yourself as you are seen by your Creator and find freedom from being a people pleaser. You already are loved. You are accepted. You are valued.”
Maybe we can escape the prison we’ve put ourselves into and discover that we are free to not pretend we are all of the labels we have given ourselves. We are more united than we have allowed ourselves to be. Maybe we can learn to have conversations with people who think differently from us again one day.
Maybe Doug can even drive a Ford pickup.