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The Christians and The Pagans
Tolerance is one of those words that seems to be said more frequently in the inverse than directly. While logic dictates that the ways we could be intolerant should be equal to the ways in which we’re tolerant, intolerance always seems to get top billing. Harsh words, actions, or worse catch our attention. But taking a step back, the division took root in our prior thinking. It begins the moment we shift from acknowledging the differences between us to judging them. We attribute a negative value to them. Consider, one of the first things we do upon making someone’s acquaintance is to compare notes on those things we have in common. We do this with little things like sharing…
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Hallways
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. – Semisonic, Closing Time When faced with an exciting new beginning, we may be inclined to ignore some other beginning’s end. Excitement is more palatable than grief. Alternatively, when we are forced to face a sorrowful ending, we can’t always recognize that it is also a new beginning. This is the way of life. Seasons change. Children grow. Relationships evolve. We are in a constant state of flux transitioning from one phase to the next. Sometimes these transitions are obvious and remarkable–a snowfall, a driver’s license, an engagement ring. Other times, it’s more subtle–only clear in retrospect. For example, it’s difficult to discern the exact moment adolescence begins. There…
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You Be You, and I’ll Be Me
No matter how I am dressed, what I look like or what I am doing, I strive to always be me. – Steve SueWing, a community organizer, family man, marathoner, friend, and occasional drag queen Have you ever tried to be someone else? If you’ve spent any time in grade school, junior high, or high school; if you’ve ever worked in a large corporation or a small non-profit; if you’ve ever sung in a band, played on a team, or been in relationship, chances are you’ve attempted to deny some aspect of your nature. Countless stories of masquerade are born of the human desire for acceptance mingled with our ubiquitous self-doubt.…
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The Perfect Age
We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations. – Anais Nin At 46 years old, I have no way of knowing what percentage of my life has passed and what is yet before me. I like to believe I’ll live to be more than 100 years old. Some people say it’s crazy to want to live that long. “What happens when your body doesn’t work anymore?…
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Bug Days
“Sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug.” – Mary Chapin Carpenter Try as we might, there are some things you can’t prepare for or change…life altering events that catch you off guard like a well-aimed snow ball. Everyone’s windshields are different. It would be nice to say that you only get one in life; but on some days they come hourly. Bug days. I would also like to report that I handle these moments with transcendent grace and aplomb, displaying a Zen-like acceptance of my new windshield circumstances. That has not been my experience. My first reaction is usually denial, followed closely with a desire to flee. After several moments of internal negotiation, I…
