And one by one, so they came…<\/p>\n
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Attorneys and actuaries…<\/p>\n
Politicians and professors…<\/p>\n
Or my sweet friend, the creative, comic book store owner…<\/p>\n
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Pharmacists and philanthropists…<\/p>\n
Owners and operators…<\/p>\n
Salesmen and stay-at-home moms…<\/p>\n
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Moms and dads of several, of some… adopted or none…<\/p>\n
Single parents and parents who’ve admirably called other children “son”…<\/p>\n
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All races, religions, and ethnic, gender, and demographic backgrounds…<\/p>\n
White collar, blue collar, no collar at all.<\/p>\n
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Last weekend was my high school reunion. What a treat it was. See if you can follow me here, from the Intramuralist’s perspective…<\/p>\n
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We came from various places…\u00a0 Indiana, Iowa, Colorado, California, Rhode Island, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, and more.\u00a0 We are a diverse group\u00a0\u2014\u00a0albeit probably not as diverse as others\u00a0\u2014\u00a0but diverse in scenario… circumstance… in both obvious and non-obvious ways…<\/p>\n
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Some came full of joy, expectation… others, perhaps, a little anxious, wondering who they would see…\u00a0how they would feel… how they would be viewed and valued after so many years. \u00a0Still others arrived with hidden heartache; some have tough circumstances at home.<\/p>\n
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Introverts and extroverts… there were incredible stories to share… of triumph.\u00a0 Of grief.\u00a0 Of sadness and success.<\/p>\n
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Yet regardless of story, we listened.\u00a0 We cheered. We consoled and we danced. It was a joy to gather together.\u00a0 It was a joy to dance.<\/p>\n
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It wasn’t a joy because we all act the same, believe the same, nor feel the same. \u00a0It wasn’t a joy because we’re all healthy or happy or hopelessly getting along at home. \u00a0It was a joy because our differences didn’t matter.<\/p>\n
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It wasn’t a substitute nor excuse.\u00a0 It wasn’t a denial of truth nor an acceptance of what’s not good, not healthy, or not true. \u00a0It was a commitment to remain in relationship, no matter what.<\/p>\n
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Far too many seem to sacrifice community because of individual difference. Far too often the individual becomes more pronounced and celebrated than the whole. From foreign countries to the federal government, they forget far too quickly how to operate effectively and empathetically with the differences that are ever present.<\/p>\n
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I don’t know if my high school class could ever come close to solving the world’s growing and glaring problems.\u00a0 But I can tell you this… \u00a0We’d work together, acknowledge the differences, refrain from denying truth, and always appreciate what we share.<\/p>\n
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We might also, just even, dance.<\/p>\n
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Respectfully,<\/p>\n
AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
And one by one, so they came… Attorneys and actuaries… Politicians and professors… Or my sweet friend, the creative, comic book store owner… Pharmacists and philanthropists… Owners and operators… Salesmen and stay-at-home moms… Moms and dads of several, of some… adopted or none… Single parents and parents who’ve admirably called other children … <\/p>\n