This is something I’d written down earlier this year while I was going through a series of conflicts within an association I’m involved with. I wanted to share it with you:

Humility w/o foolish surrender. Temperance without compromised values. Dialogue without useless bickering.

These are things that I seek but for all my efforts, the conversations that surround me all degrade. You are only considered humble if you surrender. You are only truly temperate if you agree. Dialogue is only possible if ideals match.

The human condition coupled with idealogically-driven politics has created an environment where temperate and respectful discourse is rare. We see it from national politics all the way down to neighbor disputes. Reasonability is judged based upon how far you’re willing to come to my side. A willingness to see the other side’s point of view is viewed, by most, as weakness.

The odd thing? Observed by disinterested parties, both sides appear unreasonable. Likewise, even when view by interested parties seeking common ground, both sides still appear unreasonable, but the interested party is forced to choose the side that seems “most right” just so discussion can move forward in hopes of possible resolution (if just by force of consensus.)

I find myself in this situation. As a Christian, I attempt in my frailty to bridge the gap and take my lead from Christ – less interested in the issues and more interested in the people. This is shown in His amazing patience for Peter, His willingness to educate Nicodemus, and, ultimately, His willingness to endure the cross.