Here’s a partial list floating around in my head:
Planned Parenthood is evil and sells dead baby parts
vs.
Planned Parenthood helps countless people with everything from flu shots to diabetes screening
Pope Francis is a refreshing voice of compassion that the
Catholic Church really needed
vs.
Pope Francis is the Anti-Christ who doesn’t
speak for the Catholic Church or Jesus Christ
People are being shot, but “gun control” isn’t the problem – I
have a 2nd Amendment right to own a gun and use it to defend myself
and my family
vs.
we need to find a way
to make it more difficult for unstable people and criminals to get their hands
on a gun
My marriage is now legally recognized everywhere in the US
vs.
just because SCOTUS passed that law doesn’t mean I have to approve of or even acknowledge your
“marriage”
Donald Trump is an idiot
vs.
I can’t wait to vote for Trump!
President Obama is a foreign-born Muslim who infiltrated our
political system
vs.
President Obama is the greatest president we’ve ever had,
and I can’t believe he’s already reached his term limit
Pope Francis’ speech to Congress was heartfelt and brought
people to tears
vs.
Pope Francis, as the leader of the Catholic Church, didn’t even
mention Christ in his address to Congress – he’s more concerned with global
warming than he is with getting souls to heaven – I miss Pope Benedict
See what I mean? It’s like we’re at odds with each other
over everything! And that brings me back to Pope Francis…..
There’s been a lot of chatter about his mention of atheists
who are good people doing good things. I’ve read things like “why in the hell
is he telling atheists that doing good things is enough to get to
heaven?”
Maybe folks need to revisit the idea of reading comprehension. Because while I won’t pretend to speak for
the pope, I will share my own interpretation…..
I think he was saying something like “look – it’s pretty
damn clear that we believe differently about a lot of things….but we need to
find a way to communicate with each other…..so instead of focusing on the
countless ways in which we are different, let’s find some common ground
– and then that’s where we can meet –
that’s where we can start to
communicate – that’s where we can
look at each other and see positive things instead of pointing out everything
that’s wrong with each other. So here it is – we’re good people, and you’re
good people – we do kind things for others, and you do kind things for others.
That’s our common ground. Let’s meet there. Let’s focus on those things we have
in common, even if those things seem small and insignificant…..because I assure
you – they are neither small nor insignificant.”
I fully appreciate the passion that dwells inside us....but that same passion can turn us into ugly creatures. And I don't think that's what's supposed to happen.
Just think of the changes we’d see in the world – at our
places of work – in our families – within the Christian church – between
various world religions - in old and broken friendships, if we simply choose to start focusing on the things we have
in common instead of concentrating on the shit that separates us?
What would that world look like?
And yes - it's good to be back.
