Allow me to share some thoughts with you.
Thoughts that may be contrary to your own. That may frustrate you. That may prove you wrong.
Or prove me foolish.
Are you ready? Are you brave? Do you dare?
It took some courage to write this. To open up my heart and hold nothing back. And it may take equal courage to read this all the way through. To not race to the comment section when something sets you off.
I am making an effort to self-reflect more. To find that rod in my own eye before seeking the speck in yours.
If it makes you feel better, I race to the comment section too.
I have strong opinions. Sometimes I voice them. Sometimes I conceal them. But, I usually always have an opinion.
Politics and religion. In my experience, have always been divisive topics.
It is an area where my opinions run wild and I clash with others with equally strong opinions.
We both are so sure that we are right and that our opinions are grounded in fact. Whether that be a Bible or a philosophic principle. Or science.
There is at least one thing we have in common.
We are sure that we are right and that the other is wrong.
Without blinking an eye, we race to the comment section, skipping over all the blah the other has said, to write our own.
Maybe I am wrong? That does not describe you? Just me? I am okay with that.
In this post, I might be the one who is wrong. Depending on where your beliefs stand. But the difference today is, I am trying to be open-minded to your criticism.
I might be wrong.
I believe Obama was a great president. You may not think so. You may even go as far as to say you know for a fact that he was not.
Okay, that is fine. Enlighten me.
And before racing to the comment section to unleash your bombshell proof; consider this: are you open to the same?
Are we witnessing mass indoctrination in an unreasonable ideology that divides our country more each day?
Are our ears closed off because our pet notions are being attacked?
Let them be attacked!
We need our beliefs to be challenged. They need to withstand the fire of criticism.
Sometimes the beliefs that armor us dissolve in the flames. We cry out in pain; calling each other names. It gets personal.
I for one am guilty of this.
And today I want to take a step toward acknowledging my shortcomings. Because without acknowledging where I fall short, I can never move forward.
I would like to see Confederate statues removed. Depending on where you stand on this, that may bring a smile to your face or anger to your heart.
But, this is not where it ends. There will always be something to squabble over. There will always be a reason to vilify each other.
There will always be a side that we believe is evil at its core; that there can be no reasoning with. Yet some of us dream of world peace?
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
I do not quote this passage to proclaim that I live by these words. These are very high standards to live by. I lock my doors. I wish to defend myself. As I expect many do. But, it is moving to consider.
There are limits to what I will tolerate. Maybe you can relate? Maybe you have surpassed me? Is it hard to get under your skin?
Self-reflection, self-improvement, and open-mindedness are something I aspire to.
I want to recognize my own shortcomings and I value collaborating with you to make this world a better place. This is where my heart is at and if I fall short of this goal please forgive me.
To my atheist friends, I too walked away from the church many years ago. I have visited a few times but deemed most congregations too wrapped up in toxic political views and unwilling to consider any alternatives. I began to question everything.
To my Christian friends, I went to the other side and found that both sides can be equally close-minded. Although I admired their appreciation for science and reason. When it came to morality, the compass needle seemed to be lost. Churches were not a bad place. They were safe. Most refrained from profanity. They were a supportive community. And while I harbor strong criticisms; I miss it.
I have played for both teams. The grass isn't greener on the other side. But, it is not green on your side either. The Church is not without blemish. Atheism has no compass. It’s intellectual, yet lost. And I am imperfect. I am in the middle. Tip-toeing between the two. Not accepting and not fully accepted by either.
I may very well be wrong. But, I am confident I do not own a monopoly on it.
