What Is Tolerance?

What is tolerance?  What does this word mean to you?  Most people say they have it and a lot of people swear they do but when it comes time to practise it, that's another story.

I had an interesting interaction - if you could call it that - with some folks on Facebook today on the subject of religion. It all started with my bluntly stating that I did not want to be involved with or be invited to any group which espoused any type of religion.

What a fallout that created. I was accused of being intolerant when in fact I was simply making it clear  where I stood to avoid any such group invitations. I knew I was wasting my time and energy in replying to the writer but I did it because I was in a bad mood.

Happily for me, even when I'm in a bad mood, I don't get distracted from the issue at hand. It however does make me more forceful in my response; never unpleasantly though (anymore) because I passed that stage a while ago. Now, anyone who looks at my Facebook profile would see that I espouse similar sentiments to Bob Maher. That alone should tweak their antennae.

And that nonsensical encounter begs the question what is tolerance? I firmly stand up for my right to say what I want and do not want. No one is going to do it for me, and besides, I'm very good at it.

I don't claim to have any special knowledge but I know what I know for sure and it is this:

Tolerance is difficult to practise when we hold onto judgements of others. I am living this right now. Tolerance is consciousness... Tolerance is awareness... Tolerance is love and tough love at time.

Tolerance is what Abraham-Hicks call allowing the other to be, do or have whatever they want. I do not have to take anything into my experience that I do not like.

What does tolerance mean to you dear reader? I look forward to your responses.