{"id":10714,"date":"2020-06-06T23:45:26","date_gmt":"2020-06-07T03:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=10714"},"modified":"2020-06-06T23:45:30","modified_gmt":"2020-06-07T03:45:30","slug":"and-then-there-was-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=10714","title":{"rendered":"and then there was hope…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hey, it\u2019s me again. I know we\u2019ve been talking a lot lately. Thanks for getting it. Thanks for the times you totally get it, even when I\u2019m not doing any talking\u2026 or listening either. That tends to be more my issue. I\u2019m not always good at listening and letting you direct, guide, gently nudge or give me counsel. Sometimes it takes maybe one of those divine two-by-fours to figuratively smack me over the head. Sometimes my passion or opinion \u2014 because I feel so legitimately, strongly \u2014 totally takes over. I know. You get that, too.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But wow\u2026 what a perfect storm\u2026 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were all secluded\u2026 encamped in our homes with local economies shut down, just beginning to reopen. Many lost their jobs or had them furloughed. All the spring pomp and circumstance was simply wiped from the calendar. My oldest\u2019s college graduation\u2026 my youngest\u2019s high school graduation\u2026 We had so much planned! We can never get those moments back.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been almost as if these past three months have been too much to handle. I know that\u2019s not true \u2014 but it <\/em>feels<\/em><\/strong> that way. This has been one of the harder seasons of life for so many \u2014 as we were both physically \u2014 and <\/em>emotionally<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 quarantined. We were burning to burst out. Thank God we burst out for something good!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course you already know. Nothing happens here that you are unaware of or have for some reason allowed. I don\u2019t always get that; I know you could put a stop to anything if you wanted, but my pondering sense is you sometimes allow the awful to exist in order to get our attention. We can get distracted pretty easily. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel like the globe has finally grasped the self evident truth that all men, women, children \u2014 creed or color \u2014 are created equal. That you show no partiality. And therefore, because you don\u2019t, neither should we. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That has been true since in the beginning. It\u2019s also one of the things that drives me crazy about the current two party system\u2026 Each party devalues someone \u2014 they count <\/em>some life <\/em><\/strong>as lesser. And the rest of us \u2014 because we are sincerely passionate about a singular issue or person or more \u2014 a like or dislike \u2014 even a hatred or love \u2014 we jump on the impious bandwagon. We make unholy alliances it seems, never taking the time to refute and dissect the unholy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while I understand that politics and government are tools you\u2019ve allowed to create societal order, our politicians \u2014 just like the rest of us \u2014 are imperfect. They don\u2019t always tell the truth; sometimes they lie. The end often justifies the means. They routinely hurl insults at each other, treating dissenters as enemies. They have thus ignored the impurity in their own. And it\u2019s getting worse. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s actually one of the things that\u2019s given me hope this week\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The politicians weren\u2019t leading; the people were. The politicians were finally listening to us \u2014 as opposed to simply expecting us to listen to them. I love it. This isn\u2019t a black\/white issue. It\u2019s not a left\/right issue. It\u2019s a <\/em>human<\/em><\/strong> issue. Our politicians have done us a disservice by forgetting that, and simply attempting to forge others to their partisan tribe. Sorry. That feels disrespectful. They want me to be like them. Lord, I just want to be like you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My sense is that if we can keep the specific, political party agendas out of it, we can make a difference. The world can finally get that all have equal value\u2026 that all are created equal\u2026 that all are endowed with certain unalienable rights. We can\u2019t leave out any of those aspects. Otherwise we will forget once more.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need to learn to love each other. Truly. We need to learn to see as you see and think of absolutely<\/strong> <\/em>no one<\/em><\/strong> as lesser. Right now, though, our friends who are persons of color are hurting. And everything I read about you is that you have a heart for the hurting. We have work to do. Where do we start?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humble ourselves. Yes, that\u2019s step one. Humble ourselves and pray. I hear the distinction; that doesn\u2019t say “humble someone else.” It says to humble me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means no violence. That means listening. Learning. Lamenting and forgiving. Protests get attention; peace and prayer are essential. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tangent note, if I may\u2026 Every generation has its strengths and weaknesses; they aren\u2019t so much right or wrong as opposed to how that generation has reacted and responded to the circumstances that have shaped their formative years. Today I give thanks for the younger generations\u2026 the way you\u2019ve wired them with a care for causes and fearlessness has led much of the current way.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know. You get it. But then, you always do.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You get us. Always.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respectfully\u2026 always\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AR
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hey, it\u2019s me again. I know we\u2019ve been talking a lot lately. Thanks for getting it. Thanks for the times you totally get it, even when I\u2019m not doing any talking\u2026 or listening either. That tends to be more my issue. I\u2019m not always good at listening and letting you direct, guide, gently nudge or … <\/p>\n

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