04 April 2019

Points of View

Greetings Dear Reader,

“I suppose there are two views about everything,” said Mark. “Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there’s never more than one.”
― C.S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength

My Grandfather used to say, “Opinions are like armpits.  Everyone has two and both of them stink.”  One does not have to look far to see that great division we have over issues.  We call the issues polarizing when it is our hearts that are doing that.

We have forgotten how to reason together in a way that is respectful and peaceful.  Instead of productive dialogue we shout each other down or turn to violence.  We say that we want community and peace but we only want it if is the community we wish it to be on our terms.  If it is not compliant with our opinion, it is often wrong in our opinion.

We cannot hope to bridge the division in our culture unless we begin to love those who disagree with us as deeply as we love our own opinions.  As I said yesterday, if we look beyond the differences there are so many similarities.   If we put love as our foundation for all interactions, then the differences diminish rapidly. 

If we hope to follow in faith then we are required to love.  If we follow in love then fewer things offend us.  Fewer things are divisive.  It becomes harder to marginalize people and make rules that leave others in need.  The world becomes a place where needs of any kind are an opportunity to show love. 

This singular truth is not something against which one can honestly argue.  We are supposed to love everyone sacrificially and without condition.  The only true answer I see to all of our difficulties is this Dear Reader: “By this shall all men know you are my disciples, by your love for one another.”

If you find your heart wishing to argue with this at any level, you may wish to check your heart.  We must learn to walk together in love, kindness, and grace.  That is where we will find joy in the journey and the strength to overcome all division.  When we express anything without love, something about it always stinks.  What do you think?


Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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