The joys of politics on Facebook

Reading blog posts can be painful, because so many people seem to have opposing viewpoints and there is no listening, no encouraging, no building each other up.  Even reading Facebook gives me blunt bursts of what people believe to be true, but doesn’t show me any honoring of the opposing view.  “If you believe X post this status.” “5 ways the President is ruining the world.” “Why Sarah Palin is a horrible person.” “Health care obviously requires Y.” “No, health care will be destroyed by Y.”

I want my public words to articulate my love for God and my love for others.  Then my words can articulate how I believe that works itself out in a particular situation.  But I also want my words to help others feel that, even if we don’t agree on whether the President should give a speech to schoolchildren, that God loves them and I love them.

A word of gratitude for my husband. He has encouraged me back into a more focused daily reading of Scripture.  And today’s reading (Proverbs 1 and 2, 1 Cor 16)  includes words that are particularly fitting given the climate of fear and defensiveness that seems so pervasive this week.

“but whoever listens to me will live in safety
       and be at ease, without fear of harm."  Prov. 1:33”