Man #1: \u201cExcuse me, sir. Is this seat taken?\u201d<\/p>\n
Man #2: \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
(#1 nods. Sits. Across the table from #2. Neither were expecting to be here together. Not sure if someone planned this meeting or not. It\u2019s a little uncomfortable. Hence, several awkward minutes of silence pass, until the two realize they\u2019re the only ones at the table. #2 initiates the conversation\u2026)<\/em><\/p>\n #2: [subtly but warmly]<\/em> \u201cI haven’t seen you lately. Busy?\u201d<\/p>\n #1: [also subtly]<\/em> \u201cYeah, not with the usual, but yeah, busy. You?\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cYeah, trying a couple new things. Not sure if it will work or not, but trying. How about you? I heard you were looking for work. How’s it going?<\/p>\n #1: \u201cFrustrating, but ok. I quit last spring, but rumor had it they were going to get rid of me anyway. Looking for job isn’t easy. Everyone has all these preconceived notions about you, regardless of resume.\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cSo true, man. I thought I did pretty well in my last job. We did some good stuff out in Denver. But people still said I wasn’t good enough \u2014 not the right skill set or something.\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cYou think they were telling you the truth? \u2026 why you got canned?”<\/p>\n #2: \u201cMaybe. I mean, I think everything happens for a reason, so that\u2019s enough for me. I also know that some things are just a game. Life\u2019s more important than that.\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cYou can say that again.\u201d<\/p>\n (Another few minutes of a little less awkward silence commence, this time with heads bowed, somber faces, not looking at each other but each pondering, separately but together\u2026 #1 initiates conversation this time\u2026)<\/em><\/p>\n #1: \u201cHey\u2026 you think all those people \u2014 the zillions who call you names, flip you off, judge you, all that other vulgar crud \u2014 you think they understand you?\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cNo. Not at all. I guess I just figure other people\u2019s behavior is out of my control. My job isn\u2019t to play to the audience, but to instead be who God calls me to be, say what he wants me to say, do what he wants me to do.\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cYou always do that?\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cAre you kidding? No way. I am totally, 100% imperfect, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cYeah, I heard that.\u201d (\u2026they share a sincere chuckle, looking briefly eye-to-eye\u2026)<\/em><\/p>\n #2: \u201cWhat about you? Do you think you’re doing what you’re called to do?\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cI think so. But it’s hard. It’s hard when people think I want to spit in the faces of our veterans or have no respect for any other race. Heck, my biggest fans don’t always get that.\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cMine either. Sometimes they praise me, when it’s not praising me that I strive for. I\u2019d really rather they praised God instead of me. I think we too often worship people and things other than God.\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cAgreed. I\u2019ve said before publicly that I believe God guides me through everyday. We\u2019re all equal in God\u2019s eyes, but I feel like my brothers and sisters of color are still sometimes oppressed. I want our country to talk about that \u2014 to do something! I\u2019m exhausted by the multiple examples of unfair treatment and disrespect I’ve seen.\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cThat\u2019s really hard. I’m sorry, man.\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cMe, too.\u201d<\/p>\n (\u2026 silence again ensues, but this time, it\u2019s not so awkward\u2026 the two recognize some sort of greater connection\u2026)<\/em><\/p>\n #2: \u201cHey, you mind if I ask you a question?\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cWhy do you kneel?\u201d<\/p>\n #1: (\u2026 with a slight smile and affirming nod\u2026)<\/em> \u201cGood question. I’m just trying to bring attention to what I care about. You?\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cSame.\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cDo you, well, do you ever wish you would have picked a different way to do it?\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cSometimes. Sometimes it seems way bigger than me. People have agendas and jump on bandwagons. Then the politicians get in the way, usually trying to somehow use my actions for their benefit. Then more join in and get rude and nasty, and for some reason think it’s totally ok to judge people who don\u2019t think like them.\u201d<\/p>\n #1: “Isn\u2019t that the truth! Don’t they realize that we\u2019re fighting for respect for all people?\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cTrue. [slight pause]<\/em> How \u2018bout another question \u2014 although a little more personal, if you\u2019re ok with it?”<\/p>\n #1: \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n #2: [humbly]<\/em> \u201cI know you grew up in the church, went to church through college, and often still talk about God and Jesus publicly. You wish to honor him?\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cAbsolutely, brother!\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cWould you mind then if we took a knee here together, privately? \u2026 recognizing that life is tough on this planet, yet we are each loved by God, regardless of our imperfections?\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cLet\u2019s do it!\u201d<\/p>\n (\u2026 and with that the two men reverentially kneel\u2026 another few minutes of silence pass, but no awkwardness whatsoever now\u2026 the two slowly stand, stretch a bit, grasping the sobriety of the moment. They realize their time together has come to an end\u2026)<\/em><\/p>\n #2: \u201cHey, man. I appreciate this. Even in our differences, I see we have more in common.\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cI wish all people could see that \u2014 both those who cheer and jeer. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly and respectfully.\u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cAmen, bro! Prayer helps us see that \u2014 bowing to someone bigger than we.\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cSubmission to a God who created and thus loves us is perhaps most unifying. We need to change some things around here!”<\/p>\n #2: \u201cYes, we do. Hey, what’d you say your name was again?\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cColin. Colin with a \u2018C.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n #2: \u201cHey, Colin. I’m Tim. Nice to meet you. Thanks for coming to the table today.\u201d<\/p>\n #1: \u201cYou, too, Tim. Maybe more will join us.\u201d<\/p>\n Respectfully\u2026 Man #1: \u201cExcuse me, sir. Is this seat taken?\u201d Man #2: \u201cNo.\u201d (#1 nods. Sits. Across the table from #2. Neither were expecting to be here together. Not sure if someone planned this meeting or not. It\u2019s a little uncomfortable. Hence, several awkward minutes of silence pass, until the two realize they\u2019re the only ones … <\/p>\n
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"