intramuralist ™

One of the challenges of current day is that many of us believe we know the truth and anyone who does not believe what we believe and react similarly does not know the truth. They are either ignorant or evil. 

The challenge is that so much news isn’t news; it’s bias in public form. And it’s not, most typically, some secret undercover plot to manipulate and get you to believe what we believe; it genuinely feels like their God-honest perspective… albeit one not open to nor aware of the validity of coexistent angles.

Hence, as a current events blogger — and only a semi-humble one at that — my desire is to read and listen to multiple resources and angles. AllSides.com has been an excellent provider of such. Allow me today to share an excerpt from them as to why and how they do what they do…

“AllSides provides balanced news to help you to get the full story, spot media bias and misinformation, avoid partisan manipulation, and think for yourself. Our editorial team’s primary goals are to:

• Offer you more perspectives and context than other news sources 
• Reveal stories that are outside your bubble but are important to the nation or other communities
• Highlight bias, misinformation, or diverse viewpoints in coverage of major stories and issues

What Are Headline Roundups?

Headline Roundups show you headlines side-by-side and summarize the different context and perspectives on the issue. By showing a swath of coverage from different sources, you’ll see information you may have missed or notice how journalists and commentators spin, slant or sensationalize an issue.

An individual Roundup usually takes one of three forms:

• Today’s Headlines: how top stories of the day were covered across the political spectrum
• Conflicting Reports: when sources are reporting different “truths”
• Diverse Viewpoints: when there’s a wide range of opinions on an issue, especially when the views are underrepresented in media

Sometimes, the three articles we choose are all news reports. Sometimes, all three are analysis pieces or op-eds. We try not to cross-compare these — news is compared to other news, and opinions are compared to other opinions. 

We might want to show how different sides of the news media are covering a particular subject, or we might want to show how different sides of the political aisle are thinking about and/or acting on it. The Roundup is useful in both situations.

The AllSides news team — made up of news specialists who have biases across the political spectrum — curates and writes Headline Roundups every day. This small group is politically balanced and has members who identify as being on the left, right, and center.

We know you have a wide range of interests. But we also believe that what might be the most important information for you to know isn’t always what’s most clickable, viral or “interesting.” 

With that in mind, our daily news team covers big national news that’s being covered across the spectrum, but also niche perspectives and specific examples of bias or underrepresentation. The goal is to make you more informed, more engaged in the civic process, and more prepared to interpret and interact with viewpoints that differ from your own. 

While we provide balanced news, we believe everyone is biased — including us. It is important to be transparent about bias…”

AllSides goes on to express how at times they publish a “lopsided” headline, one that only features articles from singular sides; they do this because often one side lasers in on one story. We’ve seen this on CNN, FOX, MS Now, etc. When this happens, no less, AllSides will note the coverage disparity. That coverage disparity is typically indicative of bias.

Awareness of bias is helpful in continuing to foster genuine, respectful dialogue. Genuine, respectful dialogue prompts both honor and solution, two things that ease the tension in the world today.

Respectfully…

AR

Every now and then I pen a post that feels like a home run. When all is said and done, blog is loaded, picture looks ok, I do my mental trot around the bases, sitting back, satisfied, feeling as if I’ve done my job well, communicating meaningfully what I most wanted to say.

One of our most recent posts — entitled “What Changes My Opinion” — was one of those moments.

Pointing out the significant difference between argument and persuasion, we discussed only one is rooted in humility. And it’s the humility of another that changes opinion, as opposed to the refining of any talking points.

Perhaps precisely because I was enjoying the duration of that mental trot, I landed on a related question. It went something like this…

“So how long do I have to be humble?”

Help me understand.

“So I get this idea — that humility is what convinces people that there’s reason to listen to me. The slams on social media, to your face or elsewhere, lack integrity and are totally unproductive; they don’t do what I want them to anyway; they change no one’s opinion. If anything, it makes the other person want to think less like me.

So you’re saying I engage, stay humble, and really listen to the other person.

How long do I have to stay that way?

I mean, doesn’t there come a time, when I can say: I’ve been humble long enough? I’ve listened long enough. You’re not worth my time nor energy at this point. Just come back when you’ve seen things differently, figured out that you’re wrong, and finally think correctly and think like me.”

So you’re asking is there a statute of limitations on humility?

What a great question!

Is there an expiration date?

Is there a time when it no longer pays to be humble? … that it’s no longer good nor right nor true.

Part of what makes the question difficult is that humility can feel costly. It takes time. It requires patience. It asks us to keep listening when we are convinced we already understand the issue and know the answer. At some point, nearly all of us begin to suspect that continued humility is simply enabling someone else’s stubbornness.

But perhaps that’s where the real test lies.

Humility is easy when the other person is thoughtful, reasonable, and open-minded. Humility becomes a virtue when they are not. The value of humility was never that it guarantees agreement; its value is that it keeps us teachable, charitable, and honest. It reminds us that even when we’re right, we don’t possess all wisdom, all perspective, or all understanding.

I suppose there could be. But the moment when we let the humility go is the moment neither we nor our perspective is winsome or attractive.

Respectfully…
AR

A little over a year ago, we wrote the following:

The track meet… Memorial High School junior Austin Metcalf and Centennial High School junior Karmelo Anthony were competing in a morning track meet in Frisco, Texas. It was raining, and Anthony had thus taken cover under the other team’s canopy. A witness told police that Metcalf told Anthony to move. They argued. Anthony reportedly said, “Touch me and see what happens.” Metcalf touched him. The argument rapidly escalated. Metcalf touched him again, presumably more aggressively, and Anthony pulled a knife out of his bag, fatally stabbing Metcalf in the chest. Anthony has been charged with first-degree murder, with bond set at $1 million. According to an arrest report, he said, “I was protecting myself.”

In the days since, there has been much conversation, noting too, that they were students of varied race … How does this happen? … Can it be self-defense? … Can we please not politicize it? … 

We politicize way too many things. The bottom line is this is sad. Two young men have had their lives forever altered in awful ways. God be with them and their families.

* * * * *

What a sad situation.

Last week, in a Collin County courtroom, Anthony was found guilty of first-degree felony murder. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Unfortunately, some have rushed to politicize or demonize one side or the other. Others have framed and reframed the incident to fit a preferred narrative. Even now, many seem more interested in determining who best serves their worldview than in confronting the human tragedy itself.

As one who wasn’t there, let me say again what struck me then and still strikes me now: this is an incredibly sad situation.

Two young men who had their whole lives ahead of them saw those futures violently altered in an instant. One lost his life. The other will spend decades behind bars. Two families will carry the weight of that day for the rest of their lives.

Seeking always to be respectful and to learn from the experiences of others, I was struck most by the reaction of Jeff Metcalf, the father of the deceased:

“… The moral decay of society today is rampant. And the only people that can fix it are us, the ones who exist at this very moment. To make sure you teach your kids right from wrong and guide them and give them love and guidance and let them grow and become a contributing factor of a member of society…

It’s been a long time since my son was murdered and not being able to speak. Why my dead son’s being drug through the mud, memes, pictures. But let me make one thing clear. That has went on from both sides and I don’t condone any of it. I’ve seen the things that they’ve made about Karmelo and it’s disgusting. It’s just as vile as the things that are done about my son.

Those people that are so far left or so far right, that has the need to attack a dead child or a child that’s going to prison, or any child, it doesn’t sit well with me. He’s going to have to take the consequences for his actions, but we don’t need piling on. I mean, this has been a tragedy for both families…”

Metcalf continues with further pleas: to “deal with facts and truth,” to refrain from spinning “webs to create narratives that benefit you,” and to choose love over hate.

Those words are worth hearing.

In a culture that increasingly rewards outrage, certainty, and tribalism, it is tempting to turn every tragedy into a talking point. It is tempting to decide beforehand who must be the villain, who must be the victim, and which facts deserve attention. But tragedies do not exist to validate our narratives.

And lastly, in speaking of the perceived moral decay around us, Metcalf asks a question that should give all of us pause: “Are you part of the problem? Are you part of the solution?”

God be with the Anthony and Metcalf families.

What a sad situation.

For all.

Respectfully…

AR

What’s with all the bad candidates?

Sorry. That sounds harsher than I intend it to.

I’m not trying to be disrespectful. I simply don’t believe all people were created to do all things. Hence, not everyone is called to run for elected office. And judging by some of the candidates who continue to emerge, it seems clear that many people have never seriously contemplated that possibility.

An elected public servant should be humble and others-focused, guided by a genuine commitment to serve rather than to be served. They should be rational rather than erratic, able to separate facts from feelings so their decisions are grounded in reality rather than impulse. Strong communication skills matter — not necessarily eloquence — along with discernment, basic manners, and a consistently respectful approach to colleagues and constituents alike.

They should possess solid financial and business acumen, love the state or institution they represent, and understand both its needs and its limitations. A good leader knows when to speak and when to remain silent, is willing to admit what they do not know — recognizing they can’t know everything — and remains always open to learning. Above all, politically, they should strive to be nonpartisan in judgment, able to disagree without becoming disagreeable, and committed to the common good over personal, financial, political or political party gain.

Ok. Sure. That may sound idealistic, but my strong sense is these are reasonable expectations for people seeking positions of extraordinary responsibility.

And yet, as we review the resumes of candidates across the country — meaning these are not hypothetical — people currently seeking public office include persons who:

• Believe 9/11 attacks were an “inside job”
• Claim the existence of six biological sexes
• Did not disclose personal investments with government contracts
• Engaged in infidelity with no expressed remorse
• Follow porn stars and prostitutes on social media
• Have fired whistleblowers
• Have been charged with fraud
• Have been associated with Nazi symbolism
• Sent sexually explicit messages
• Were physically rough with women
• Were previously impeached
• Were absent during an ongoing emergency

Those same candidates have also been sadly frequent and fluent in their derogatory comments, specifically making disparaging remarks about LGBTQ+ individuals, rural residents, white Americans, and victims of sexual assault.

And, of course, derogatory comments about anyone who doesn’t support their candidacy.

Let me be clear: the above list is sadly an equal compilation of current Democrat and Republican behavior.

So let’s return to this idea of bad candidates. Again, my intent is not to be disrespectful. I simply think many of the wrong people are running for office. Perhaps more so, I think we’ve become far too willing to accept them.

It leaves me with three primary thoughts…

First, our recent presidents—regardless of party—have demonstrated significant deficiencies in either character, competence, or both. As a result, the bar has been obviously lowered. What once would have been disqualifying now barely registers. Behaviors that would have ended political careers a generation ago are excused, rationalized, or ignored so long as the candidate wears the right jersey.

Second, I wonder whether we—as voters, alongside the media and the money that fuels modern politics—have made public service so unattractive that many of the best candidates simply stay away. Why would a person of integrity, humility, and admirable selflessness willingly subject themselves and their family to the spectacle politics has become? The constant outrage, endless scrutiny, personal attacks, and tribal warfare often seem designed to repel exactly the kind of people we most need.

And third, a lot of people have yet to realize that they were not created to do all things. Ambition is not qualification. Desire is not calling. Confidence is not competence. Wanting power does not mean one should have it.

Perhaps the more troubling question is not why so many questionable candidates keep running, but rather: why do so many of us keep rewarding them?

Not being “the other guy” is not enough.

Until we start expecting more from our leaders — more character, competence, humility, and honesty — we are likely to continually find ourselves dissatisfied with the options available, as ultimately, politicians rise or fall to the level that we are willing to tolerate.

Respectfully,

AR

First, as reported by The New York Times: “For more than a decade, Jesse Ridgway has made a living posting YouTube videos, some personal, to millions of followers. It seemed natural, then, he said, to share that he and his wife, Ashley, had decided to terminate her pregnancy after a test revealed the presence of Trisomy 21, a form of Down syndrome.

‘This choice was not made lightly,’ Mr. Ridgway, 33, wrote in a lengthy post on X on Wednesday evening, two days after his wife underwent an abortion. ‘We made a difficult decision that we believe in the long run will be beneficial for our family,’ he added.”

Their announcement reached millions and quickly triggered a strong response. Much of it was harsh and unkind. I won’t add to that. But I do want to offer a perspective—one shaped by experience, and by a faith that has grown well beyond where it once was.

Years ago, halfway through the pregnancy of our third son, we were told he had a 50/50 chance of having Down syndrome. Josh had a particular heart defect that often appears alongside Trisomy 21.

I was young then—in life and in faith. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

I remember two doctors looking at each other before asking if we wanted to consider terminating the pregnancy. The question felt clinical to them, but to me, this was already my child—fearfully and wonderfully made, known by God long before I would ever know and hold him.

For us, the answer was simple: no. But simple didn’t mean easy.

Over the next four and a half months, I prayed constantly. And if I’m honest, those prayers revealed how limited my trust really was. I asked God to let it “just” be the heart issue—something we could fix, something I could understand, and most of all, something that fit within my expectations of what was manageable.

I was trusting God… but only as far as I could see.

When Josh was born and his diagnosis was confirmed, I cried.

I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again. I cried because I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I cried because I was scared. Because my expectations were gone. Because I couldn’t yet see how this could ever be “good” or beneficial for my family.

I didn’t doubt God—but I didn’t yet understand Him either.

Now, 24 years later, let me say this with complete certainty: the only regret I have is that I cried that night.

Because what I could not see then, God already knew.

He knew the joy Josh would bring. He knew the ways our family would be shaped, softened, and strengthened. He knew that what I feared would limit us would actually become one of our greatest blessings.

Josh is an imperfectly amazing, joyful, kind, loving, funny, thoughtful, faithful young man. He connects with people in a way that is genuine and disarming. He brings light into our lives and into the lives of others. He is absolutely thriving.

And through him, I have seen more clearly what it means to love as God loves—without condition, without pretense, full of joy.

I am so grateful that God did not answer my prayers the way I prayed them. In His wisdom and mercy, He gave me something far better than what I was asking for. 

So when I hear the phrase “beneficial in the long run,” I understand the desire to make the best decision you can with the understanding you have.

But I also know this: sometimes our understanding is incomplete. Sometimes what we cannot yet see, God is already redeeming. Sometimes what feels like a disruption to our plans is actually an invitation into something deeper, richer, and more meaningful than we could have ever imagined.

I’m so grateful that my lack of understanding didn’t have the final say in our story.

God’s plan has been so much better than mine.

Love you, Josh… so proud of you.

Mom

There are a lot of things I believe but don’t always say.

For example, I’m a big believer in the First Amendment — in the essential freedoms each of us has to speak our mind, practice our faith, gather peacefully, report independently, and hold government accountable.

I struggle with our Presidents and also the elect, especially when their leadership has been marked by erraticism, narcissism, partisanship, and/or lack of mental acuity. 

I believe government is too big, too expensive, and significantly inefficient. Too often, it attempts to do things it was never designed to do. I believe, too, government is incapable of being the moral authority of the land.

And I believe loudly and clearly that no one is anyone else’s Holy Spirit. There’s only one of those, and we’re not it. That means it’s not our job to convict someone else of what is good, right, and true.

Let me be clear: I believe each of the above passionately, strongly, and deeply.

I am a fan, too, of the late Sen. Howard Baker and his keen, lasting wisdom.

Known as the “Great Conciliator,” Baker was deeply respected across party lines for his integrity, humility, and willingness to listen well. Part of that humility was captured in a phrase he oft repeated: “You know — the other fellow might be right.”

In other words: “I might be wrong.”

I have no doubt that some of my opinions are wrong. I’m certain there are issues and areas where I’m wrong and have absolutely no clue. And there have been multiple conversations and exchanges of ideas over time that have notably changed my perspective.

But there are also places where I have not changed. There’s a reason for that.

It lies in the difference between argument and persuasion.

An argument is an exchange of opposing views that often becomes heated. Worse, it usually becomes personal. We insult the person who thinks differently than we do, assuming the only reason they disagree is because they are ignorant, foolish, blind, or malicious.

Persuasion is different.

Persuasion actually moves someone toward a different belief or understanding, usually through reasoning, relationship, patience, and sustained trust. Consistent with my earlier point, persuasion is not playing the Holy Spirit in someone else’s life. It’s not forcing conviction upon them. It’s engaging in an honest exchange of ideas in a way that genuinely allows another person to consider their perspective.

Arguments rarely produce anything lasting. Persuasion often does. And the difference between the two is rooted in humility.

Rarely is my perspective changed by the argument of another. Often, though, it is changed by the humility of another.

Baker spoke often about humility, especially in how we listen and communicate. It’s not merely that another person feels heard; it’s that they actually are heard.

Want people to think more like you? I understand that. What we believe, we oft believe strongly.

But if I truly want my perspective to resonate with others, it’s not merely my arguments or talking points that need refining. It’s the humility within my own heart. That’s what people find convincing. That’s what people find attractive.

Respectfully…
AR

Ah, yes, time for questions in the month of May. Remember: questions are the only punctuation piece that beg a response. Not all actually want a  response. Here are the first 65 we saw asked:

1. A Covid-Era Bombshell Coming?
2. As Politics Fragments, Can the Worldwide Center-Left Rally?
3. Can Anyone Stop JD Vance in 2028?
4. Can Democrats Take Back the Senate?
5. Can Massie Survive GOP Primary?
6. Can Republicans Survive the Midterms of Rage?
7. Can Spencer Pratt Ride Viral Videos to Victory in Los Angeles?
8. Can Talarico Flip Texas, or Are Democrats Just Dreaming?
9. Can Ted Cruz, Congress Save College Sports?
10. Can Trump Repair Relations With the Pope?
11. Can You Shame an ICE Agent Into Quitting?
12. Could a PA Primary Decide Democrats’ New Direction?
13. Could Trump Jr. Make a 2028 Presidential Bid?
14. Did Jill Biden’s comments revive a political headache for Democrats?
15. Did MAHA Just Sink a Senator?
16. Did Trump Do Democrats an Attack-Ad Favor?
17. DNC Autopsy: Did They Really Want to Know?
18. Does Sydney Sweeney Make You Uncomfortable?
19. Escalating Economic Crisis Weakening Iran’s Position?
20. Fetterman Is a Lonely Democrat. Could He Flip Parties?
21. Finish the Job in Iran?
22. Gone Are the Days When CA Had a GOP Governor–or Are They?
23. How Did Democrats Lose in ’24? And Where Do We Go From Here?
24. How Long Can Iran Withstand the Pain of U.S. Blockade?
25. If America’s So Rich, How’d It Get So Sad?
26. Is AI Breaking the Entry-Level Job?
27. Is China Out of New Ideas?
28. Is Hasan Piker the Face of the American Left?
29. Is Islamic Law a Threat or Dog Whistle?
30. Is It a Problem If the Fed Speaks Too Much?
31. Is James Talarico Vegan?
32. Is Jill Biden Lying About Joe Biden Behind the Scenes During His Presidency?
33. Is OKC Thunder’s Controversial Style of Play a Growing Problem for the NBA?
34. Is There Hope for the Polarized State of American Politics?
35. Is This the Best California Dems Can Come Up With?
36. Kamala Is Dems’ 2028 Favorite, But Won’t Endorse in CA Gov?
37. Platner Taking the Edge in Maine Senate Race?
38. Signs of Optimism: Did Trump Actually Help Venezuela?
39. So What If Dems Are Divided on Mideast? Embrace It
40. Spencer Pratt Gaining Traction. Can He Save LA?
41. UK Politics Descends Into Chaos: A Lesson for Democrats?
42. Was Travis Kelce Cute or Cringe?
43. Were you told the truth about President Biden’s cognitive abilities?
44. What Does Tucker Carlson Really Believe?
45. What Happens When Europe Finds Out How Poor They Are?
46. What If the GOP Threatened Obama the Way Dems Threaten Trump?
47. What Suddenly Made Jon Ossoff Into Such a Dem Rock Star?
48. What’s at Stake in China?
49. What’s Up With Mr. Wonderful’s Data Center?
50. Who Wins the Re-Redistricted House?
51. Why Are Some in Our Media Cheering for Iran?
52. Why are we talking about this?
53. Why Did California Award CAIR $40 Million?
54. Why Did Every Democrat Skip Senate Hearing on Fauci?
55. Why Did the Murders Stop in Baltimore?
56. Why Does the Left Give Hasan Piker a Pass?
57. Why Has the Number of Births Declined Everywhere?
58. Why Is Mahmoud Khalil Still Whining?
59. Why Isn’t Matt Mahan at the Top of the California Polls?
60. Will Crime Cost Democrats the Midterms?
61. Will Republicans Blow It on Immigration Issue?
62. Will Sen. Cassidy Get His Revenge Against Trump?
63. Will Senate GOP Get the Message? Pass the SAVE Act
64. Will 2026 Be a Normal Midterm?
65. 2024: Any Lessons Learned?

Questions are an excellent tool for the sincerely curious. Love that punctuation piece.

Respectfully… always…

AR

[Intramuralist note: sources include American Mind, Audacy, Bleacher Report, CBS, City Journal, CNN, Daily Kos, The Daily Signal, The Federalist, FOX News, The Free Press, The Guardian, The Hill, John Kass News, MS Now, The New Republic, New York Post, New York Times, The New Yorker, NY Magazine, People Magazine, Politico, RealClearInvestigations, RealClearPolitics, Rolling Stone, Salon, The Social CTV, Substack, USA Today, Vox, Wall Street Journal, Washington Examiner, Washington Monthly, and the Washington Post.]

“To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone. This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, a lot of patience… I do apologize for any strife of traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming…”

With those words, recovered from his notebook, Luigi Mangione laid out the chilling rationale behind the December 4th, 2024, killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.

Mangione continued: “A reminder: the US has the #1 most expensive healthcare system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy… The reality is, these [parasites] have simply gotten too powerful, and they continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it.”

Hours before the ambush, surveillance cameras tracked Mangione’s mundane morning routine. Footage shows him leaving a Manhattan subway station, buying coffee and snacks at a nearby Starbucks, and chatting on his phone. Further video from a hostel and a taxi captured his face clearly enough to later fuel a nationwide manhunt.

Then came the strike outside the New York Hilton Midtown. Cameras captured Brian Thompson walking down West 54th Street when a masked gunman approached from behind. The shooter pulled a silenced pistol and fired into Thompson’s back, but the weapon immediately jammed. Instead of fleeing, the gunman calmly cleared the malfunction while Thompson collapsed. Stepping closer, the shooter fired at least two more rounds at close range, then casually wove through parked cars and escaped into Central Park on a Citi Bike.

Today, Mangione awaits trial on 13 state and federal charges—including second-degree murder and interstate stalking resulting in death. He faces life in prison without parole. He has pleaded not guilty to each charge.

By entering a “not guilty” plea, Mangione isn’t necessarily declaring complete innocence, but rather demanding that the state meet the incredibly high legal burden of proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt. His defense team is utilizing this constitutional safeguard to force the government to seamlessly connect every piece of forensic and video evidence. In a high-stakes trial, every technicality matters, and a plea of not guilty ensures that the prosecution must prove its timeline flawlessly. This calculated legal maneuvering treats a horrific act of violence as a chess match of legal thresholds.

But what is most troublesome about this case is not the legal definition of “reasonable doubt.” It is the public’s willingness to erase doubt entirely—by justifying the murder.

In the wake of the shooting, a wave of public sentiment sought to minimize the execution of Brian Thompson, casting him as the sacrificial face of corporate greed. It is a classic, dangerous juxtaposition: treating a systemic grievance and a coldblooded killing as two sides of the same coin.

Whether America’s for-profit healthcare system is broken is a valid, urgent debate. But execution is not a valid policy response. To champion a murder under the guise of cosmic justice is not good nor right nor true. It reveals a profound, terrifying lack of collective wisdom.

When a society begins to normalize assassination as a form of customer service, we lose more than just our sense of safety. We lose our humanity. May we always be careful what we choose to justify—and exactly what we sacrifice in the process.

Respectfully…

AR

Dear Graduate,

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Now that you are formally entering adulthood, allow us to address a few more brief truths as you take these next few, albeit humongous steps…

First, there is that time for everything — every activity under heaven, every season under the sun. The reality is you will not enjoy nor desire each of these times. But one of the quiet truths in life is that how you respond to circumstance is typically more important than the circumstance itself. Such is a key to wisdom. Seek after wisdom. Always.

Remember that you have a choice in how you respond; too many forget that. Instead of intentionally seeking wisdom, they become self-focused or demanding. Resist that. Learn the difference between enjoy and embrace. Not every season is meant to be enjoyed, but every season can be embraced. When the time comes to tear down or turn away, embrace it. When the time comes to grieve, grieve. When the time comes to dance, dance — maybe even dance a lot. But in every season, remember that learning from the experience is far more important than becoming self-focused and demanding. The wise person learns and grows through each season, even the hard ones.

Second — and don’t let me shock you — but contrary to perhaps your long-held belief (or some fictional, parenting mantra) — you cannot be whatever you want to be. I’m sorry; remember… we are wrestling with reality. Similar to the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and jolly old St. Nick, there are a few things we’ve told you for some reason, that aren’t actually true. 

It is true that you cannot be whatever or whoever you want to be. Also true is that you are not entitled to any of those desired positions. However, you can be something better. You can be all that God created you to be. Embrace your gifts. Utilize the individual, unique wiring within you — the wiring that makes you distinctly and beautifully, uniquely you! Resist comparison. Don’t fall prey to society’s hollow teaching that another person’s wiring or set up is somehow better or worse than your own. Simply embrace your strengths and grow through your weaknesses. Quit attempting to cover them up. Seek God first; seek his intention for your life. Then be who he created you to be.

And third, our brief rapid-fire of encouragement… 

Love deeply. Offer grace generously. Never view grace and truth as opposites, as each can and should be applied in full measure. Wash your sheets — at least before you have company. Don’t be selfish. Be slow to anger. Be fast to forgive. Be humble. Forgive again. And again and again. Recognize that sometimes intelligence gets in the way. Intelligence and wisdom are not the same thing. Wisdom is better. Don’t be bitter; you will be the only one harmed in the long run. Eat healthy. Know when to not. Find the benefit in both fasting and feasting. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, as well. Separate the reds from the whites. Be charitable. Be noble. Save some; spend some; give some away. Don’t be afraid of sorrow. Recognize that you can feel sorrow and joy both at the exact same time. Turn off the XBOX. Watch out for the pitfalls of social media. Value other people. Be sharpened by their differences. Chew with your mouth closed. Don’t ever think of equality with God as something to be grasped. Listen to the elderly; invest in the young. Bow and curtsy when appropriate. Open the door. Show respect — in what you say and how you think. Be curious; not condemning. You can’t be both at the same time. Remember that respect does not mean accepting all as equally good and true. Know when to be loud — when to be silent. Look another in the eye. Put the phone down. Use your napkin. Be discerning. Be aware that just because something feels good, it doesn’t mean it’s wise. Be prayerful. Figure the faith thing out; know that another can’t do it for you. And embrace each and every season shared above… the time to laugh… the time to cry… the time to grieve… and yes, that time to dance.

There is a time for everything. God has made everything beautiful for its own time. 

Congrats, grads…

AR

While we always have a few special words for grads this time of year (and will share some on Sunday), Grammy-nominated country singer/guitarist Eric Church had some great ones last week in his commencement address at the University of North Carolina. It was excellent. Some called it the “best commencement speech” they’ve ever heard. Here’s some of what he had to say, in a message called the “Six Strings of Life”…

“Six strings: When all six are in tune, the chords they make can stop a conversation cold, carry a broken person through the worst night of their life, or make a room full of strangers feel for three minutes like they’ve known each other forever. But if even one is off, the whole chord unravels. Not gradually, not politely. The moment you strike it, you know.”

“Trust what your heart hears and is telling you about your song.”

Wonderfully…

AR