Brian Williams returned to work on MSNBC yesterday, just in time to cover Pope Francis’s visit to the U.S. As we all know, this Pope has gone where no one before him has ever been, and has gained a great deal of popularity and respect for his messages on inclusion, forgiveness, humility, love for the poor and marginalized—and respect for all beings and the natural world that sustains us.
How ironic it is then that as Mr. Williams began his coverage, the hashtag #BrianWilliamsPopeStories sprang up on twitter and took off with tweets on how Williams might make up stories that put him in shared experiences with the pope. Yes, some were creative and humorous, but they were none the less unkind and even hurtful. One can only imagine what Francis would (or will?) have to say if they are brought to his attention.
What does this have to do with relationships you ask? Actually, the answer is a lot. Healthy and mutually satisfying relationships happen between people who are respectful, empathetic, supportive, forgiving, non-judgmental, and loyal. Therefore if someone can be this judgmental and unkind to a man they have never met and don’t even really know, imagine how they might treat an intimate other when they have been disappointed by their behavior and/or are asked to forgive and move past a transgression they have committed.
The way someone treats their family, friends, co-workers, exes—and yes, people they don’t know personally, is a glance into how they will treat an intimate partner. Pay attention to how he or she talks to wait staff, comments they make about political candidates and public figures, the person who drives too slowly in front of them, or the one who is a bit different. This behavior is a window into their soul—something Pope Francis is a true authority on.
