Is Understanding one another more important than accepting each other?

The discussion about teamwork in the office reminded me of a popular saying in China, Li Jie Wan Sui (理解万岁), which means “Halo to understanding one another”. The young generations are yelling for understanding them more than any other groups of people in China. I believe that understanding one another is important in our daily life, but I don’t believe “fully understanding one another” exist in the world. I have The Bible to support me on this :(Gen11:1-9)

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

You see, if people could have understand each other fully, nothing human beings plan to do will be impossible for them, guess what will happen if human beings can achieve whatever they want? Human beings will become more and more prideful.

As a member in a team or in a family, I should try to understand others but never expect other to understand me fully. We should accept one another in a team or in a family. Eric Hoffer said, “There would be no society if living together depended upon understanding each other.” I would say: “There would be no great team if working together depended upon understanding each other.” (hopefully, people from the next century will quote this in their team work training classes,haha)


Victor