After multiple insights, expressions, opinions, and articulations… silliness, seriousness, sincerity, and sarcasm… stories of triumph, struggle, heartache, and hope… let me say one thing: I’m back!
It is with great joy, my friends, that I pick up my metaphorical pen, resuming our respectful dialogue of current events. I believe that respectful dialogue makes a difference. I believe we can learn and solve when we listen well. I believe much of the world — many of whom are highly intelligent (and even elected) — do not practice respectful dialogue (… and we wonder why they rarely seem to craft effective solution).
Each year, when we feature our summer Guest Writer Series, we are practicing what we preach, so-to-speak. Multiple persons from multiple bents express perspective that perhaps we do or do not share. We can learn from them… as long, of course, as the conversation is respectful, even amidst disagreement.
Over the past three weeks, we’ve heard from many… from an author to a state senator to a food bank director… from a retired teacher to a current teacher to a young man living overseas… from a college kid to a stay-at-home mom to a career pastor… from a psychologist to a nonprofit director to a realtor, filmmaker, and wise new grandma.
We’ve heard about much… from news sources to sorrows to everyone needing a superhero… from television to gender identity to the unscrupulous activity of the IRS. The bottom line is that we’ve listened. And unlike far too many who take oaths to represent us, we realize that we learn from listening. The purpose of the Guest Writer Series — in addition to an intentional refreshing and refocusing for this semi-humble blogger — is to model the Intramuralist mantra.
There is thus much more I’m eager to talk about! …
I want to talk about Ferguson, Missouri… what happened there… and how so many reacted wisely and poorly… how so many keep reacting — and feel justified — without knowing all the facts…
I want to talk about the situation in Syria and Iraq… how religious minorities are being hunted, tortured, and persecuted. What are we doing? … is there a measurable strategy? … why not?
I want to talk about James Foley, the American who was beheaded by the Islamic terrorists. There was outrage, yes… shock, too… but will the outrage last?
I want to talk about the college football captain who was hurt last weekend, heroically jumping off a balcony to save his 7 year old nephew, who was supposedly struggling in the swimming pool… “I would do it again for whatever kid it was”… and now it turns out it was all a lie… why did he lie? … why do people in leadership sometimes lie?
I want to talk about atheist Richard Dawkins, who said that it’s “immoral” not to abort a baby with Down syndrome. I want to again discuss how intelligence and wisdom are not the same thing.
I want to talk about a lot of things… what we learn from the younger generation… what our kids keep teaching us… the lack of wisdom in the world… the digression… the authentic sources of hope… the insights, encouragements, dangers, and even opportunities for abundant sarcasm!
Fire up! It’s going to be a fun, insightful season… starting now.
Respectfully…
AR