One of the pictures that hung on the sunporch when we lived in Henly could have been summed up with the words "Play Nice." At the time, our grandchildren were small and we had a small table and chairs that the General bought from the Pottery Barn for Children also was placed on the sun porch.
Of course, I thought the General had lost her mind when she bought the miniature table and chairs. She really was unconcerned with what I thought, because she thought our grandchildren would enjoy it. From her perspective it was about making our home welcoming to grandchildren.
I recently overhead a conversation by grownups and had the thought that they lacked social skills training. God help us, we don't seem to learn from the sins of the past. I don't normally address any issue related to politics on my blog because it is an NO WIN topic, but civility and respect are critically important. Without those two ingredients, we forfeit hope for a peaceful coexistence.
How do we disagree? Isn't that one of the primary questions that our nation faces this morning? Forget the nation for the next few moments. Let's move the question closer to home. Actually, truth be told, how we disagree surfaces in disputes that never get resolved.
Sadly, the folks we should be the closest to are often estranged and banished from those you'd expect to be the closest. I've seen it in families. Family conflict is an oxymoron. The two should never be linked together. We should not better than to let disagreement or anger divide families.
We can look at the nation and the conflict that is an on-going saga in Washington and wonder about the probable outcome. What concerns me most is that American Christians, like all Americans, are being conditioned by the rhetoric of division.
This is about us – How do we disagree? We are a divided people and whether we want to admit it or not, fear is the common denominator that engulfs our nation. It doesn't matter one's station in life, socio-economic standing or position of power and prominence. It doesn't matter if we are young or old, single or married, rich or poor. Race doesn't matter either. When decisions are made from the vantage point of fear, the outcome is normally flawed.
Whether fear is real or imagined, it makes no difference. Perception becomes our reality, and our current reality is one characterized by fear. Fear blocks meaningful communication and the ability to form trusting relationships. A house divided cannot stand. Perhaps not since the days of the Civil War has our nation been so polarized, angry and fearful.
For us there seemingly is no middle ground. We should know better, but hate dresses well to please the buyer and everyone is of the mindset, "It is my way or the highway". I can't think of a more self-destructive approach to problem solving.
"God help us" is my sincere prayer. Isaiah expressed it like this: "So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand".
Matthew 5: 43-48 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Dr. Carlyle Marney was a previous pastor of the First Baptist Church in Austin He served from1948-1958. Each year the church hosts a lecture series named in Carlyle Marney's honor.
Interestingly, in his book entitled: "Faith In Conflict, Marney dedicates the book to his friend Victor. It reads like this: "To Victor, who agrees with me in nothing and is my friend in everything."
So, my question is this: "How do we manage conflict the way Marney and Victor were doing it? What is the secret of agreeing on nothing and yet being friends in everything? We must successfully find an answer or we are doomed.
All My Best!
Don
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