Years ago, I had a stroke that wiped out almost all my vision. Imagine trying to see life through a McDonald’s soda straw…for real. No peripheral vision, no depth perception. Just complete blackness, except for that little round view directly in front. Taking a slow walk was difficult and driving was out of the question. I told a friend it felt like looking at life through a straw, and he said, “That sucks.” I laughed out loud, in spite of the seriousness of the situation.

Thankfully, over time the my vision came back. But that straw metaphor stuck with me—how easy it is to miss the world happening all around me.

Flash forward to recently: two back-to-back meetings. One leadership group from a very conservative organization, and all of them Fox News fans. The other organization were CNN watchers. It was like flipping between two different realities.

And these were smart, passionate and productive people, not fools. Sixteen degrees between them—MBAs, MDivs, PhDs. But it was like each group had downloaded an entirely different version of America. One swore by Sean Hannity. The other couldn’t get enough of Anderson Cooper.

Here’s the “aha” for me: Both sides are sipping from the same straw—the media one. News outlets aren’t trying to make you a wise, tender-hearted leader. They’re trying to keep you glued to their channel and angry enough to hunker down on your worldview.

Stockholder profits come first. A “blow torch” of ideology a close second. I’m not quite sure where (or if) truth fits on their list of priorities.

If you’re only getting one angle—one voice, one algorithm, one narrative—you’re not informed. You’re just looking through the straw. And for us trying to live as Tender Lions—strong and compassionate, courageous and kind—that just doesn’t cut it.

Life through a straw makes us emotionally weak, empathy-starved, and can eliminate critical thinking skills. We can’t love our neighbors if we’ve been trained to fear or mock them. And yes, Jesus actually said that loving your neighbor is just as important as loving God.

So, who’s your neighbor? And are you even seeing them?

Here’s my challenge: Get rid of the straw. Be curious. Listen to “your neighbor.” Not to change your mind or theirs, but to stretch your heart.

The world doesn’t need more passive observers scrolling their feeds. We need Tender Lions who see clearly, love boldly, and act with wisdom and courage.

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This blog shares perspectives on how you can create new story endings that are filled with greater meaning, power and hope. Brian Becker facilitates leadership and culture changing processes that help organizations achieve greater impact. He also provides leadership coaching to help executives and aspiring leaders become the fullest expression of who they’re intended to be. If you’re looking for coaching or consulting services, you can contact Brian here – briancarlbecker@gmail.com

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