Here is the true meaning and value of compassion and nonviolence, when it helps us to see the enemy’s point of view, to hear his questions, to know his assessment of ourselves. For from his view we may indeed see the basic weaknesses of our own condition, and if we are mature, we may learn and grow and profit from the wisdom of the brothers who are called the opposition.
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
A Time to Break Silence
A bigger post is coming this afternoon/evening but here are three things I’ve noticed…
1) The majority of the people that I talk to about the book have still not read the book. All of their opinions on the situation are based on the trailer or the interviews.
2) I’m finding mainly 3 Groups:
those who had questions about Rob or didn’t like him…who seem to not really like the book.
*and here I am finding mostly lack of understanding of his writing style, not as much objection
to content.
those who like Rob. They listen to him a often and get his communication style and like the book.
those who say Rob who?
3) It’s rare that as a pastor, outside of a cultural “moment”, your study or hobby interests and the conversation of the majority of your community align. This has definitely been one of those moments. So we talked about it in our worship gathering last night. And…
when given a chance to share in a safe space, people will surprise you with their depth of knowledge, care, concern and questions.
the post conversation comments were brilliant.
our views of the afterlife even in our community are all over the board.
people talk a lot less about Heaven than they do Hell.
Hell is used as a motivator in a number of different ways.
4) This topic get’s some folks really high strung really fast, and I’m not sure why.
5) I have for year’s heard Rob say…”the best teaching starts the discussion.” Well, he has for sure done that on this one. He may not be answering the way we want him to but he has surely started the discussion.
Talk to you this evening. Remember, the Dude and Love abide.
Peace ~
wm
One of the great tragedies of life is that men seldom bridge the gulf between practice and profession, between doing and saying. A persistent schizophrenia leaves so many of us tragically divided against ourselves. On the one hand, we proudly profess certain sublime and noble principles, but on the other hand, we sadly practice the very antithesis of these principles. How often are our lives characterised by a high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds![…] We proclaim our devotion to democracy, but we sadly practice the very opposite of the democratic creed. We talk passionately about peace, and at the same time we assiduously prepare for war. We make our fervent pleas for the high road of justice, and then we tread unflinchingly the low road of injustice. This strange dichotomy, this agonising gulf between the ought and the is, represents the tragic theme of man’s earthly pilgrimage.
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Strength to Love
